AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-85 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 08/05/2003 10:19:08 AM ----- BODY: I'm testing out my new blog to get familiar with it and to hopefully start making some pre-trip notes. We're leaving for Italy in 85 days - that we would be my husband, Chris and daughters Becky and Sammi. We'll be joined there by some friends, S, her husband R and their daughter A. This will be mine and Chris's 4th trip, the girls seconds, and our friends first (well R has been before). Things off the top of my head that I still need to too: 1. Practice my Italian 2. Find Internet spot near Pienza (Castelmuzio to be exact) so I can keep up this blog while we're away. 3. Get my IDL. 4. Create a rough itinerary. 5. Reserve a hotel for our last night in Rome (we'll probably stay at the Hilton near the airport :( but I need to confirm this). Okay - that's it for now - let's see if I can post this correctly. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-83 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 08/07/2003 08:02:01 AM ----- BODY: One of the two big things I obsess over (home or away) when I'm driving to a new place is directions and parking. So yesterday, I started to check out Michelin to see how their directions work and compare them to my touring club map. I'm being dense because I don't understand them - sometimes they just say 5 Kilometers without a road number or anything. Later, when I'm home, or maybe over the weekend, I'll post an example over at Slowtalk and see if someone there can explain it to me. I'm starting to think about things for us to do while we're there. I really want to visit Arrezzo on Sunday to see the Monthly market (but again, I obsess about parking). I'm also thinking one day we can head to Perugia for the Fair of the Dead. I know Chris wants to visit some wineries (much to the chagrin of Sammi). I want to set up tours for him at DEI (if possible) since he loves their Nobile, and maybe Avignonesi - although if it's a choice between visiting some places or wineries, I'll choose the former and we'll split up for the day. One day I'd like to visit Montalcino and Sant'Antimo though I've been - last time we arrived during Siesta and I'd like to do a bit more shopping this time. Chris also wants to return to Siena and for lunch at Monterrigioni to that place we dined in on our first trip. And lastly, if it's time, there's helping Rebecca and Marc pick olives - they promised us some free oil if we can last an entire morning or afternoon and we're ready for the challenge. So, already the week has filled up - and I forgot our one day excursion into Florence so A can see the David. It's her only request and I want to honor it. Besides, any excuse to return to Gianni e Figlio. On another note, I've started practicing my Italian again. I'm redoing the first series of Pimsluer tapes (I can invite an Italian man to my place for a drink with ease ;) ) as well as boning up on my vocabulary. If I can start the second series, before our trip, I'll be in good shape. Today I'm going to concentrate on my numbers again - see if I can remember how to count to 100. Guess that's it for now. Testing to see if I can figure out why my link didn't work [URL=http://www.michelin.com]Check Out My Italy Planning/Trip Blog[/URL] ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-63 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 08/26/2003 07:54:30 AM ----- BODY: I've been remiss in my planning but will get my act together shortly. I just want to make a note here that I should print off Dean's Montalcino Food and Wine Resources from Slow Talk to add to my files. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-61 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 08/28/2003 07:19:43 AM ----- BODY: Italian lessons are going well - I'm about 1/2 way through Pimsleurs first course, hoping to start the second in a week or two. We heard from Rebecca of InTuscany on Tuesday. R is taking care of sending her the remaining balance on the house either today or tomorrow. Once I remember to charge up my Palm, I'll probably start some to-do lists. Can't believe we leave 2 months from today!!!! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-56 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 09/02/2003 09:58:02 AM ----- BODY: R wired the money to InTuscany on Friday. He used his bank, Wachovia. What a rip off. There was a $40 up charge (my bank charged $20 last summer) but they converted the money at a rate of 1.13 dollars to Euro when the rate at the time was 1.08. R is calling the bank this morning to find out why. It's a racket; they get you coming and going. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-47 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 09/11/2003 07:30:52 AM ----- BODY: New Blog Member I finally remembered to send Chris and SR the link to my blog in case they're interested in seeing what I'm writing about them ;). Now Chris has the crazy idea that he wants to blog here too - kind of a he-said she-said blog. I just invited him to join but I'll bet you anything he doesn't follow-through (there Chris, I've thrown down the gauntlet). New Guidebook I bought a new guidebook and it arrived yesterday. It's Rome In Detail - A Guide for the Expert Traveler. It's published by Rizzoli w/ the IHT. Several different writers have contributed to the publication and I love it! I'm no expert traveler but how many times do you want to visit the Forum and Colosseo? I'm excited because after skimming through it last night I have several ideas for our time in Rome. My only concern is that the distances on the maps may be a bit misleading, so I'll need to check on that for walking. First Thoughts for Arrival Day We've never arrived and had our room ready - really, when you land by 7:30 and are usually at the hotel by 9 - 9:30, who can blame them. So, assuming that's true again, I figure we'll head to either Rivere in the Piazza Della Rotunda across from the hotel or maybe over to Cafe St. Estachio for some Cappuccino and Hot Chocolate after we drop our bags. Then a stroll down to the Campo dei Fiore and if times allow maybe further on to the ghetto. If history repeats, our room will be ready around noon, so we'll return there to shower and refresh. I'm hoping this trip, we can all sleep better on the plane and keep the girls from napping. If they need to nap, then I'm hoping our room's ready earlier. Anyway, after refreshing, I need to check the location again for Trattoria Lampada. If it's near where I think it is, it won't be far from Piazza Barberini and Santa Maria della Vittoria. I'm thinking, if the trattoria is open for lunch, we can stop by there about 2:00, otherwise we'll head to pasquale's for pizza. After lunch, I'd like to visit Santa Maria Della Vittoria (open from 3:30 6:00 PM; located Via xx Settembre 17 - by the way what is the street officially called? Venti Settembre?) then head over to Santa Maria Della Concezione to visit the crypts (open from 3 - 6pm). Though the girls want to visit the crypts on Haloween - I have to admit I find something about that appealing too! I'll enter the church's info on Friday's agenda too for a late afternoon visit just in case. Thoughts for our Second Day I'm still fuzzy about how we'll spend our second morning. It will definitely be a "play it by ear" time. SRA will arrive around 9:30 - if they have Sandro pick them up, I may try to hook up with him, and do the airport run. Otherwise, we'll just meet them at the hotel. If their room isn't ready, I figure they can use ours to shower and nap - if they need too. If they don't need to nap, or just take quick ones, we can stroll over to the Trevi Fountain to throw our coins, then up to the Spanish Steps. No matter how I try, I can't seem to get away from those darn steps. It's okay though, Chris wants to check the watercolors done there and I can definitely get into that. This time though, for our return route, I'd like to walk down the via di Ripetta to see the Mauseoleo di Augusto and cut over to the Lungotevere in Augusta to see the Ara Pacis (Altar of Peace) but I'm wondering if it's visibile to the street or open to the public? That afternoon we're meeting Peter Kilby at the hotel for lunch (Pasquales) then SRA are taking a tour with him of the Forum and Coloseeo. I think we'll stroll over to that area with them but this trip, I really want to see San Pietro in Vincoli (3:30 - 6:00 pm) and Casa di Livia (9:00 - 4:PM). The latter concerns me b/c of the time - I don't know if October will be considered the Winter or not. Also, while the distance between them looks walkable, I'm not sure if they really are. Anyway - those are my thoughts so far. I'm sure now as I delve deeper in the research, I'll have more stuff to think about. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-28 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 09/29/2003 10:58:41 AM ----- BODY: It's been a while since I've posted b/c I've actually been spending most of my free time planning. Here's the current thinking on Itinerary: Day 1 Arrive Roma We won't get to the hotel until 9:30 - 10:00 ish I figure b/c of our snafew with our flight (did I mention that here)? Anyway - I'll post about that at another time...Sandro will pick us up at the airport and hopefully we'll make a pit stop at the keyhole as Chris and Sammi would like to see that again. After we drop our bags (assuming our room ins't ready yet), we'll head across the piazza for some cappucinio, ciocolatti caldi and bombolini. Then we're going to hike down to the Campo dei Fiore and possibly the ghetto for a bit. Both girls have mentioned their desires to purchase shofars which they can use next year at High Holy Day services. My thinking is, if we can find a Judaica store in Rome, that would be an excellent souvenier. After our stroll, we'll return to our room to rest/shower and freshen up before we make a late afternoon visit to two churches I've wanted to see: Santa Maria Della Concezione and Santa Maria Della Vittoria (I believe - my notes are at home). I want to see the capuchin crypts and Bernini's Ecstacy of St. Theresa. The girls would rather visit the crypts on Haloween and as I've mentioned while that thought appeals to me, I'm not sure we'll have any time. Hey - you know what - I already posted this stuff - duh! Okay - so see below for day one and day 2 - I'm off to planning Day 3. Day 3 - Vatican I've spoken with Peter Kibly () and we're going to meet him for a tour of the Vatican Museum this morning. After the museum (which I'm hoping we'll be able to squeeze two hours with the kids, we'll head over to the basillica (or maybe vice versa - whichever). For lunch, I'd like to eat at Ristorante Dante-Taberna De'Gracchi so we can get a buon riccordo plate - and hopefully have a decent meal to boot. I need to double-check the location but it doesn't seem too far from the Vatican. I'm leaving the late afternoon unplanned but if we have time, maybe we'll stop at Castello St. Angelo or maybe we'll just hang out - perhaps this would be a good time to walk over to the Trevi or Spanish steps if we haven't already done that. Dinner this evening - L'Orso Ottanta - can't wait! Day 4 - Travel Day We're picking up our cars from Avis this morning (rental via Auto Europe). Sally Watkins arranged the rental cars for us and originally we were with Eurpoecar but we've changed our drop off point to be the Chiusi station from where, we'll train back into Rome rather than returning to the airport. Anyway - I'm hoping for a pickup around 9:30 and then we'll hit the road. We still have a couple of options for today. The first, and the one I hope works out, would be to attend a Slow Traveller GTG (get together) in Orvieto for lunch. But I haven't checked this out yet with the rest of our travel companions. Our second option is to track down the Buon Riccordo restaurant that Grinisa (aka Anita) enjoyed on one of her previous trips - if memory serves it's near Viterbo. Driving there, have a leasurely lunch and then hit the road again. Our third option will be to drive to Pienza and spend the afternoon strolling around the town, hopefully, have lunch at Latte de Luna. Rebecca and Mark at In Tuscany said no one's in our rental the week before, so if we want to arrive a bit early we can. Our fourth option - explore Orte (looked really cool from the A1). My concerns for this day relate mostly to traffic and openings since it's All Saints Day - when will we do our shopping? Will we get stuck in major traffic jams leaving the city - that sort of thing... We're hoping to join Rebecca and Mark for a drink when we arrive and my guess, we'll stay in that night and munch on cheese, sausage that sort of thing for dinner - maybe make the girls some pasta. Day 5 - Tuscany We can either have one of two types of days here and I'm pusing for the first type. I know it's a haul but I really would like to take the drive to Arezzo to see the monthly antique market. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-26 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/02/2003 08:18:05 AM ----- BODY: I left off with Day 5 so... Day 5 - Tuscany As I said, I'd like to visit Arezzo today to see the monthly Antique market. I'm figuring if we could hit the road between 9:30 and 10, we'll get there around elevenish. Again my concerns go to parking (notice a theme here?). Anyway, b/c of that, I looked into driving to a town along the way (e.g., Cortona) and taking the train in from there but I'm not sure it's worth the extra hassle - I'll talk to the others and see. A few hours strolling around the market, lunch at Buca Di San Francesco (another Buon Riccordo restaurant), a tour of the Piero Della Francesco frescoes and home. That would be my goal for the day with perhaps another simple dinner at home in the evening. The second alternative would be to explore the area around the house. Visit Pienza, enjoy a long leisurely lunch, catch up on laundry kind of day. Day 6 Tuscany Today is falling into place nicely. Chris and I have wanted to visit DEI Winery for a tour for a couple of years. We enjoy there Nobile wines and have several bottles (as well as some of the Santa Caterina) in our basement (and I literally mean basement - while we have a bunch of wine down there, it's definitely not a "cellar"). Well, it turns out Peter Kilby is friendly with the owner Catarina Dei (I think that's her name). So he's scheduling a tour of the facility for us on Monday morning. Afterwards, we'll visit Montepulciano for lunch and stroll through the town as the shops open late in the afternoon. Sounds like a perfect day to me.....oh I have to remember, I want to contact Bill and Patty Sutherland Tuscan Women Cook to see if they'd like to meet for a drink later this afternoon. Day 7 - Tuscany The next four days get fuzzy only because we need to finalize some plans. Over the course these four days we want to: Visit Siena 1. I'm hoping to get together with Cristina and receive "The Insider's View" tour. If we can get an early enough start this morning, I'm also hoping to visit Monterrigioni first. Originally, we wanted to go here for lunch but then Chris decided he wanted to spend more time in Siena, so I think we visit here first then head to Siena and we can have the entire day here. Chris wants to see the Duomo but I want to visit Santa Domenica and see Saint Catherine's head. I know, kinda bizzare but I still want to do it. Visit Florence Al wants to see the David, Chris wants to climb to the top of the Duomo and I want to do some shopping. I promised S, from work, I'd get her a Jelly Kelly bag and I'd also like to visit the glove store and Giulio Giannini, across from the Pitti Palace, to get some more journals. A stop in Verrazzano for lunch or a late afternoon snack wouldn't stink either. Visit Montalcino I just want to stroll through the town while the stores are open, do some tasting at the Fortezza, have a nice lunch in the area and possibly visit Sant Antimo. San Galgano I'd love to see the sword in the stone having always been fascinated by the story of King Arthur - though I'm not sure I can convince the others to do the 90 minute drive. Explore the Crete Yes, we'd like to visit Monte Olivetto (which would probably fit in more with a Sal Galgano trip or Siena) and some of the other tiny towns by us, not to mention Pienza. And of course things I've given up on seeing: Cortona Visiting Perugia for the Fair of the Dead I just don't know if we'll have time. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-20 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/08/2003 07:44:59 AM ----- BODY: We met over the weekend with R&S to discuss our trip, so now I have a few things to take care of: 1. Make reservations at the Accademia 2. Send Sandro of Roma Limo our flight information 3. Check with Rebecca at InTuscany to: A. Confirm our arrival time B. Find out if they have a hair dryer (for S) C. See if we need reservations for Saturday night dinner in town 4. Make reservations to visit the Piero Della Francesco frescoes in Arezzo 5. Contact Cristina to see if she can get together on either Tuesday or Thursday while we're in Tuscany. 6. Make late afternoon reservations at the Borghese Museum (3:00) As far as the fuzzy days go - here's where we're ending up: Day 7 - Tuscany We're going to visit either Siena or Florence today, depending on which day works better for Cristina. In Florence we have a few goals: 1. S, R, and A want to see the David 2. Chris wants to climb to the top of the Duomo 3. S, I and the girls want to shop! 4. Have some wine and snacks at Cantina Verrazzano In Siena - well that depends on Cristina but I'd like to visit San Dominico to see Saint Catherin's Head :) Day 8 - Tuscany Today we're heading to Montalcino to do some brunello tasting, shopping and visit Sant' Antimo. Day 9 - Tuscany See Day 7 (whichever we don't do that day, we'll do this day. Day 10 - Tuscany It's market day in Pienza so we're going to visit the town, have lunch and call it an early afternoon so we can pack. This night though, we need a special restaurant to celebrate R's birthday! Day 11 - Travel We need an early start to day to head to Chiusi to return the rental cars. I'd like to catch the 9:30 train into Roma from there but I'm concerned that may be pushing it. Once in Roma, we'll return to Pasquales for lunch. Then head over to the Borghese for a late afternoon reservation. Dinner this evening will probably be in a buon riccordo establishment - I always forget this one's name....anyway we'll be hooking up with TravelswithDeb from AOL and her husband. Day 12 - Travel We return home today - bummer. We'll arrange for Sandro to pick us up in the hotel and return us to the airport. Yousef will pick us up on the other end and that evening, it will be Chinese food with my parents who will be in visiting from Florida (poor planning) and departing the next day. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-15 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/13/2003 08:57:36 AM ----- BODY: Things are solidifying (sp) even more. I got this stuff done last week: * We're all set with Sandro for our pick-up and drop-offs at the airport. * On Saturday, we picked up our International Drivers Licenses and some other travel essentials (i.e., eye masks and ear plugs for the plane). * I've made reservations at the Church of San Francesco to see the frescoes. * Started to print driving directions. I know Pauline can't stand the on-line directions but I like to have something, plus I'm going to make a connect-the-dots kind of thing highlighting the towns between our start and end. Things I still need to do: - Contact Rebecca - Make reservations for lunch at Buca San Francesco (buon riccordo place) in Arezzo - Contact Del Senato for our dinner reservations in Rome. - Make reservations for Borghese Museum - Gather all my notes into some cohesive form (e.g., restaurants, things to do, driving) I am so excited fo this trip, I feel I could bust. The kids are excited too. Funny though, different from past trips, I'm not feeling stressed about the things I haven't done and surprisingly, I've adopted the attitude, if it doesn't get done, tough - we'll still be fine. A strange attittude coming from me. Which reminds me, something occurs to me with the driving directions. Often, I've seen signs for cities further than I want to go - for example, around Siena, I've seen signs for Grossetto, Arezzo, and Rome when confronted with three different alternatives, rather than closer cities (e.g, Montalcino). So how do you know then which way to go? And back to another topic, I'm bouncing around today...we're living dangerously this trip. In previous trips, I've purchased $500 worth of traveller's checks and after each trip, I've deposited $500 worth of traveller's checks back into my checking account, so this time, we're not doing it. I feel as if I'm living on the edge ;) ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-8 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/20/2003 07:39:42 AM ----- BODY: I've reviewed my blog to get a feel for what I'm still missing: - I need to contact the Del Senato for dinner reservaions - make reservations at the Accademia - Do my CVS shopping - Show my neighbor how to use our alarm and give her the key. Her kitchen's under construction so I offered her ours while we're away. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-2 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/26/2003 06:45:05 AM ----- BODY: What's left to do? Pack Send out Itineraries to our families/friends who need them Show my neighbor how to use the alarm and give her the key Divy up all the great source material from Slow Trav between us and RAS B&N run to see if they have the November issue of Savior and the November issue of BA (I'm looking forward to this one) Make sure I print all the contact info I need (e.g., Peter Kilby, Sandro, Cristina, etc.) Now for the aside because the best made plans of mice and mom's..... Sammi's been congested all week, alergies we figure, but no fever though she's been out of sorts. Yesterday, while we were carving pumpkins (yes carving pumpkins because this stupid mother told her daughters since they were "missing" Halloween, they could have a Halloween party for their friends 3 days before our departure - yikes!). Anyway..while we were carving pumpkins, Sammi just didn't seem right. She was freezing - now granted it was cold outside but not that cold and she finally asked if it would be okay if she went inside. No biggie - of course I said it was okay for her to go inside. Afte we finished, while I'm about to make lunch, I notice how bundled up she is while she sits on the couch. She says she's freezing but when I feel her forehead, it's pretty warm to me. Sugar! She's got the chills. A small rectal manuever later, yep - that's 101.9 on the thermometer. It's 12:35. Normally, our doctor's there until 1:00 on Saturday. Run for the phone - nope - it's the answering service, not enough sick kids in our area and they're gone for the day. Call a medi place in the next town, "Nope, you won't make it here before we close." Well, I would have (you should see me drive) but not the doctor was appararently leaving before closing time (so what's the point). I hang up and we scramble to find another place when the phone rings. It's the Medi place, asking if we had just called. Yep that was us. Well it turns out, one of their former doctors was visiting and heard our phone call. She has an office 5 minutes from my house and was willing to meet us there. That woman single handedly restored my faith in the medical profession (and if you knew what was going on in our state with doctor's striking b/c of malpractice insurance and stuff, you'd understand). She met us at her office 20 minutes later, examined Sammi, who I think I forgot to mention, is prone to Strep, and said, she can do the strep test but we won't have the result for a few days b/c the lab's closing. So she gave me antibiotics in case it's strep, zyrtec for sammi's allergies, and nose spray for her congestion. Told me she'd follow up w/ me on Monday, and if it's strep, she'll give us enough antibiotics to get us through our trip - yippee. Well, unfortunately for Sammi, she was shipped off to Aunt Ann's last night so the party could continue. Gotta tell you that child took it like a trooper - an extra gelato for her on Wednesday. Ann said she slept most of the early evening there and sweated a bunch like her fever was breaking. It wasn't. She still felt hot to me when she got home but not nearly as bad and not lethargic at all - I think we nipped this one in the butt - well at least I'm hoping but time will tell today when she wakes. So anyway, with our departure imminent, I've got the fear of Sammi's illness and the potential fear that Becky will turn up sick in Italy. Yuck. Of course, Chris reminded me, this happened 3 years ago too, two days before we left for Disney. Guess it's the risk of planning an Oct/Nov vacation. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-2 Days and Counting - Part II STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/26/2003 12:37:22 PM ----- BODY: So here's the drill as close to final as possible. Everything's open for debate as all adults agree, we can't come home from this vacation needing a vacation. Depart Tuesday afternoon at 1:00. Yousef of Edison Coach will pick us up for the drive to JFK. We're flying out of JFK b/c stupid Continental cancelled our flight, didn't tell us, and booked us on a flight out on Wednesday. We didn't want to depart on Tuesday so the best they could do was transfer us to a flight on Delta out of JFK. They're picking up the difference though in the limo ride between Newark and JFK. 5:55 PM Departure. Arrive Rome 8:15 AM. Sandro from Roma Limo will pick us up and hopefully we'll make our pitstop at the keyhole. Now the rest of this day will be up in the air. Assuming Sammi's well. Drop our bags at Albergo Del Senato and head across the piazza for some cappucino and bombolini. Then a stroll down to the Campo Dei Fiori and perhaps further along to the Ghetto (if not today than next morning). Return to the hotel around 11:30 - 12:00 to shower and freshen up. If the kids don't need major naps, we'll head to La Lampada for lunch and what will hopefully be Chris's first of many truffle dishes (I'll settle for porcini) though I am committed to trying truffles again. If they need naps, it will be Pasquales. After lunch, a visit to Santa Maria Della Vittoria to see Bernini's Agony of St. Theresa and Santa Maria della Concezione to see the capuchin crypts. Return to the hotel to relax for a couple of hours, perhaps enjoy a pre-dinner proseco to celebrate our 14th wedding annivesary then off to Ristorante Abbruzzi for dinner. SAR arrive. Slow, relaxing morning, lunch with Peter Kilby at Pasquales for Pizza. SAR will head to Forum and Coloseum with Peter while we head to Palatine and St Pietro in Vincolo to see Moses and the chains. Dinner this evening will be at Piccolo Arancia (with a stop on the way home to throw our coins in the Trevi fountain). Peter meets us in the morning and we head over to the Vatican Museum. Lunch hopefully at Taverna Grachi for our first Buon Riccordo plate. Depending on how tired we are, returning to the basilica for a climb or maybe Castelo st. Angelo - or maybe just back to the hotel to hang and relax. Dinner tonight at L'Orso Ottanta. Early morning departure (9:30 ish to rental office on Via Sardegna) to pick-up our two mid-size cars, one automatic, one manual from Avis (via AutoEurope). 2 1/2 hour (probably more) drive to Castelmuzio. R's sister, who's taking a language course in Perugia will meet us there. We'll enjoy a late afternoon drink with our hosts, Mark and Rebecca, and dinner in the evening at the restaurant in Castelmuzio, Il Carmalengo. Relativiley early morning departure (9ish) for Arezzo to enjoy the Antique market. We have 1:00 reservations at the church of San Francesco to see the frescoes, followed by a 1:30 reservation at Buca di San Francesco to obtain our 2nd Buon Riccordo dish. Dinner at the villa - probably something simple like eggs, or cheese and crackers. Mid-morning departure (10:00) for Montepulciano where we have an 11:00 appointment to tour the DEI wineries. We're big fans of their Nobile and I think this will be the highpoint of the trip for Chris. After our tour, lunch and stroll through Montepulciano (hopefully the stores will open and we can do some shopping). Not sure what we'll do for dinner this evening. Early morning departure (8:00)is for Firenze. I'm going to make an 11:00 ish reservation for Accademia so everyone can visit the David. Chris may climb the Duomo but the most of the day will be devoted to strolling and shopping. Hopefully, I'll meet Diva before our reservation and have tentative plans to meet Pauline Priore for a late afternoon drink. Late return to the villa and doubt we'll do anything special for dinner. Montalcino - departure, we'll play be ear but probably 9:30 ish. I'd love to do some shopping and we definitely want to do some wine tasting. Nice lunch somewhere (unfortunately, bocadivino may be closed so perhaps Taverna Grappolo Blu (sp)). Late afternoon vist to Sant Antimo then home. Early morning departure - 8:30 ish for Monteriggioni then we're meeting Cristina (slow trav moderator) for the "Insider's Tour of Siena" ;). Also to make a much needed delivery of Nestle Toll House morsels ;D. Pienza in the morning for the market and some shopping, lunch at Latte dei Luna - perhaps - or just a picnic somewhere. Special dinner tonight for R's 55th birthday!! R's sister, will return from Perugia and her language class to join us. Early morning departure (8:30 ish) for Chiusi to return rental cars and take the train to Roma. We have a 5:00 pm reservation at the Borghese Gallery. For dinner, we're meeting TravelswithDeb (AOL) and her husband at L'orso ottanta for fairwell meal. 9:55 flight on Continental back to the states with a 1:40 pm arrival. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-1 Day and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/27/2003 07:28:57 AM ----- BODY: Sammi still has a 101.0 fever. We packed our clothes last night. I'm thinking too much especially considering we'll have a washing machine as of Saturday. Yet we're only in 2 cases (ll bean pullman's the large size and the rolling duffle) and there's room in each. Here's what we have so far: Becky & Sammi 3 pairs pants 5 long sleeve tops 5 underwear 5 socks 2 lightweight flannel pjs 3 personal items ;) On the plane she's wearing/storing overhead 1 pants 1 long sleeve top 1 sweatshirt 1 underwear/socks 1 fleece lined raincoat Chris 3 Docker Pants 5 Oxford shirts 1 Black Vest Underwear (lost count on how many) Socks (lost count on how many) Shoes 1 flannel pj bottom 1 raincoat liner On the plane, 1 docker pants 1 oxford shirt Raincoat I don't think he's planning on bringing his blazer but I'm not sure. Kim 2 pairs docker type pants (acctually llbean easy care) 1 pair silk long underwear 1 travel shirt (w/ easy roll sleeves) 1 mock-flannel travel shirt 2 turtleneck type sweaters 1 short sleeve turtleneck sweater 1 flannel pjs 1 pair black shoes 4 underwear 1 bra 4 pair socks Now, I also packed - 1 pair lightweight yoga type sweats, t-shirt, sweatshirt, sport bra, sweatsocks and long underwear. I hate the space it's taking up but our last trip, when we rented and drove everywhere, I gained 2 pounds. I don't want to gain weight this trip, so I'm committed to walking in the mornings before the others rise. Let's see if I actually do this. On the plane: Gray stretchy pants black shirt black blazer raincoat socks, underwear, bra I'm toying with the idea of the others all losing one pair of pants but then I think how dirty they get and I go back to leaving it as is.....times like this I wish people could reply b/c I'd like some other opinions. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-4.5 Hours and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/28/2003 08:25:10 AM ----- BODY: Sammi's fever is down to 99.9. Made reservations this morning for the Accademia, 7 people at 11:00. Need to finish miscellaneous packing. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T+5 Hours STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 10/29/2003 07:53:54 AM ----- BODY: Arrived a few minutes early. Claudio (I think) met us at the airport. Arrived hotel fine (bit of rush hour traffic). Room not ready until 1:30. Dropped bags and realized cough syrup leaked in my healthy bag, yuck. Cleaned it out and went across the piazza for cornetto con crema, bombolini, 2 hot chocolates, cappucinio and espresso - made the mistake of sitting - ouch almost 20 E. Really, had to sit though - who could trust the kids not to spill HC down their shirts, standing. After breakfast, walked to Campo Di Fiori via Piazza Navona. Spent some time quizzing kids 1) who made the statue 2) which river hides his face, etc., they actually liked that. Becky made sure we eyed ever single stall at the campo, especially the ones selling cheap jewelry. Walked towards ghetto. Spent some time exploring Porto de Octavia and Teatro Marcello. Strolled around synagogue then returned to hotel via Torre di Agrintina (sp). Kids love cats. There is a tour on Sat at 3:30. Maybe on the 8th if we have time, we will do it. Returned to hotel, room still not ready. Went for first gelato, becky & sammi had carmello. Sammi didn't like, bummer. I had banana. It was okay - didn't seem fresh. Have to remember to get name of place. Went to Pantheon (Sammi has been nagging all morning to go). Strolled around, quized kids again then returned to hotel. Hotel could not get through to La Lampada for lunch, kids and us a bit tired so we opted for Pasquales pizza instead. 1 large beer, 2 coca colas, 2 slices plain, 1 slice artichoke and 1 slice funghi - 13 Euro. Upstairs ran into Peter. He trained down with a family from Las Vegas who are staying in Tuscany. Just here for the day. Starts to pour while we eat (until then just sprinkles here and there). We wait for the rain to stop then walk back via del Corso so Chris can try to find store he thought was there that sells soccer jersies. Could not find. Teems as we turn corner to head back towards pantheon. Return to hotel, room ready in 10 minutes. Girls suggest a quick run across to see Pantheon again, with rain streaming through hole. Chris waits at hotel. We forget umbrellas. Every umbrella hawker in the area swarms us. Pantheon pretty cool in the rain - with bright light, it almost seems as if it is snowing. Run into Peter there too - "stop following me" he jokes. Back to hotel for this blog entry and to finally get into our room. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T+4 Days STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 11/01/2003 02:15:22 AM ----- BODY: Arrgh...Computer crashed after about 5 minutes of typing. Okay as I was saying ..... Wednesday the plan had been to rise after a nap about 4 and head to Santa Maria Della Concezione and Santa Maria Della Vittoria. But the girls seemed tired so we opted to let them sleep a bit longer then showered and headed downstairs for cocktails before dinner. Michele after a moment remembers us (pretty good for 16 months later and all the customers he has had...or pretty bad ;)...anyway, we start with prosecco for me, a tuscan red for Chris and of course 2 coca colas for the kids. We toast our anniversary and Michele brings us the usual assortment of olives, chips and some mock chex party mix kind of thing. Okay the computer keeps losing connection, and I need to wake the crew so I am ending this. Everything is going well. We are heading to Villa Nell Olliveto this morning. Hopefully will find a place with access sometime this week to update the blog but we will see. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T+8 Days STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 11/05/2003 04:19:23 AM ----- BODY: Castelmuzio has an internet point in the bar, can you believe it?? I am just giving the highlights now because there is so much and I find typing with the Italian keyboard very frustrating. Wednesday night we returned to Abbruzi for dinner (1 Via Vaccaro) food still basic and good. Thursday, SRA arrived in the morning while we were downstairs having breakfast. Sammi is doing better but not great. They look exhauseted - they did not get much sleep on the flight over. After they freshen a bit, we pretty much repeat the stroll we took on Wed, through Piazza Navona, down to Campo dei Fiore and into the ghetto. Along the way Chris buys a pretty spiffy hat, I buy a mezzuzzah for a friend and Sammi and A buy little model smart cars. That afternoon, we have lunch with Peter Kilby then SRA go off with him for a tour. We visit Palatino Hill which is great fun for the kids, peaceful and with some beautiful views. Then, though exhausted, hike up to St. Piero in Vincoli to see the Moses. It is closed - bummer!!!! For the next four weeks (until about Nov 16), they are closed all afternoon while they film something. We hike back down to coloseum and taxi back to Piazza di Gesu where we stroll to Entocca Corsi for a drink. Back to room to relax, shower and freshen up. Let us see, after pre-dinner drinks at the bar we went to Piccolo Arancia for dinner Wednesday night. Food was good but the restaurant was very crowded with a large party that took up most of the main room which made for some cramped dining. Oh and stopped along way to throw our coins in Trevi. On Friday, we met Peter Kilby early in the morning 8:30ish for a tour. We visited two churches on our side of the Arno to see some Caravagios and Rafaels then took 2 taxis to the Vatican Museum, no line. Strolled through there (took the correct door when we left) and ended up right in the Basilica. We parted, Peter went to catch a train back to Montepulciano, and we spent some time in the Basilica. Then a hike to Taverna Grachi for our first Buon Riccordo plates!!! That afternoon we split up, SRA, went to Coloseo and Forum, we went back to the room to relax. Sammi is coughing and I want to slow the pace down a bit for her. Becky and I soon get antsy so we hop a bus to Santa Maria Della Concezione to see the crypts while Chris and Sammi continue to hang. We all meet up later that night and return to Abruzzi for another good basic dinner. Yum, one last gelato in Roma (by the way the place next to the hotel, not the cafe but to the left of the cafe as you are facing the hotel has really good gelato), then off to bed. We rise relatively early, grab our stuff and take two taxis to Avis on Via Sardenga to pick up rental cars. SRA gets an upgrade on their manual which comes with a cd player, we do not :(. It is cloudy and rainy but the drive is not bad getting to the Bettole exit on the A1 - just a bit of traffic. Yikes, I should have taken Pauline's directions to Castelmuzio instead of using Rebecca's. We got pretty lost (30 minutes worth) but eventually made it to Castelmuzio. Even on this dank day we could see how beautiful the area was, is. We arrived about 2:30 to a roaring fire in the wood burning stove. Love it. We unpack, start some laundry, explore the town, drink some wine, and wait for R's sister, who is late. She arrives about 6:30 and we drink more wine then walk to dinner... other than our adventure around Sinalunga, an easy day. Sunday it is up early and a drive to Arezzo. Find easy parking just past the train station and let the shopping begin. It is the monthly antique market and all three girls (not including S and I) go bugeyed as they examine every item at every stand. We visit the frescoes, have an amazing lunch at Buca San Francesco, where we get our second and final plate! then stroll through the market some more. We say good buy to K, R's sister and her boyfriend as they head back to their normal lives and we return to the villa without getting lost in Sinalunga. Of course, R made a wrong turn in Arezzo, so we tracked him down and led him back to the Autostrada. That night, just some snacky food and off to bed. Monday we visited San Biagio and DEI winery - good tour and tasting, picked up a bunch of wines then drove to Montichiello for lunch at La Porta. Yikes - poor Sammi (who buy the way is doing better), gets terribly car sick on those switchback turns. La Porta is excellent, go. We stroll through the town, then return to Castelmuzio via Pienza. Dinner that night, in town while girls stay by themselves at the house (more on this later). Yesterday, a long and exhausting day up to Florence. We left about 8:15 and returned home around 8:15. Saw the David, met Judy in the Centro Mercato (BTW Judy - we must have just missed you, we had to pick up a jacket for S and left Verazzano about 5:10 :(. , climbed the Duomo (well the men and kids did), had lunch, bought S a leather jacket at NOI, visited Santa Croce, had drinks at Verazzano, and drove home - yikes. BTW - parking at Porta Romana worked well. Today, off to Montalcino for some brunello. Ciao ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T+9 Days STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy 2003 CATEGORY: Italy 2003 DATE: 11/07/2003 04:04:11 AM ----- BODY: Okay let's see....Wednesday after I left here, I returned to Villa Nell'Olivetto to find everyone but Chris picking olives with Mark and his crew. The girls looked so cute with the baskets strapped around their waists. So of course, I shed my blazer and helped too. Eventually Chris joined us and we spent the next two hours picking olives, only the low branches as none of us climbed any ladders. I could have spent the entire day doing it! Around 12 though, our stomaches started to rumble, so we piled into the cars and headed for Montalcino. BTW the navigating dot to dot (i.e., town to town) works great. We went to Montalcino, via San Giovani Di Asso, some other town, then were pretty much able to follow sings for Montalcino. We parked behind the fort in a free lot and climbed into town. Lunch was at a very small family trattoria - delicious and plentiful. Then we strolled through town, did some wine tasting (not at the fort - too crowded) but at Osteria something something (don't worry I have the names somewhere), then headed home. Chris and I continued on the Sinalunga to the Coop to pick up something for dinner as we ended up cooking in Wed and Thursday night. Yesterday, we met Cristina in Siena - what a trip. She is fantastic and a wonderful guide. I really do like Siena and definitely want to spend more time there. To me, it feels more of a "living city" than Florence. Oh and since you know my obsession, we did the dot to dot method again (Trequanda, Asciano, Arbia, Siena) and parked easily at the San Francesco parking outside the city walls. We returned home early (actually our earliest night - about 5), visited the local coop for some bread but they were out and made an early dinner. Today it is raining - that type of all day steady rain. Hey I walked 3 KM to Petroio this morning (each way), so anyway, we are taking it easy, maybe heading to Pienza to pick up some lunch munchie foods, relaxing and unfortunately packing. Tomorrow it is back to Rome. I may try to do one more entry then. Sunday, it is back to the airport and home. Ciao ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: T-516 Days and Counting STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 12/01/2003 02:05:08 PM ----- BODY: I'm not sure anyone expects me to keep udating this blog but since we do have another trip on the horizon, I figure, "What the heck!" Anyway, here's the deal. Originally I'd planned to celebrate my 40th birthday on the Amalfi coast for at least a week (with obligatory stops in Rome at the beginning and end of the trip). Chris also planned to spend his 40th birthday somewhere though he couldn't decide between Venice, Umbria, Tuscany, London....well you get the idea - Chris isn't too decisive in these matters. However, getting someone to watch the kids in January (now we're talking 2005 for both of us), would be difficult at best since my parents by then have done their winter migration to the warmer parts of Florida and I'm honestly not sure Chris's parents could handle the girls for more than a night or two. Not that the girls are trouble makers mind you but Chris's parents are definitely past the "parental stage." As we talked, we realized the babysitting factor along with the cost of flying two different places, and the desire to travel alone (i.e., just the two of us) might be prohibitive. When we returned from this last trip, I explained to my Mom (a saint if ever there was one) our dilema and she immediately offered their (her's and my father's - much to his chagrin ;D), babysitting services during the year of 2005. The only catch being, it would have to be in May or September. We're not stupid, we jumped at the offer and decided to combine our two separate trips into one two week vacation (which of course, I'm already spreading out longer), at the beginning of May. Chris, contrary to past habits, has already decided he would like to rent an apartment in Montalcino for the week of "his birthday" and I'm the one undecided. Originally, I thought Amalfi but now I'm considering other areas in the south. We've briefly talked of Puglia but I want to research that more - Chris is concerned about how long a drive it will be from there to Montalcino. So that's where we stand - two weeks in May 2005, one week in Montalcino, one week somewhere else in the south with investigations beginning now. Feel free to post any suggestions to www.slowtalk.com :). ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: So It Begins STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 04/18/2004 10:01:52 AM ----- BODY: Last night I had a bad dream. Well it was bad until I turned into Tom Hanks just before he left for the island in Castaway - as if he intended to....anyway I digress. In my dream I opened an envelope from my Gynecologist. It contained all sorts of test results from my last exam - why the Gynecologist was testing this stuff I don't know but anyway, the results freaked me out. I can't remember everything because it's that way with dreams but I do remember my cholestral landed at a whopping 835 points and I had a spot on my heart and lung - go figure. Scared the shit out off me. Unfortunately though it's not too far from the truth. Well, not so much the numbers because I'm thinking if you have 800+ cholestral, you're probaby dead but I'm here to tell you that I'm not in the best of shape (to put it mildly). So for those of you who thought this category dealt with travel well, I hate to disappoint. It's not. I'm not going "anywhere" through this writing, just hopefully to a healthier me. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday April 19, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 04/19/2004 01:07:13 PM ----- BODY: I was going to track this information under Journey but decided not to muddle those musings with this factual stuff and since I haven't yet mused to explain what I'm doing here and need to get going with this, I decided to create another category. 8:00 - 1 Hard Boiled Egg = 2 points 9:45 - 24 Frosted Mini Wheats = 3 points 9:45 - 1/2 glass of skim milk = 1 point 12:00 - big salad w/ light dressing = 3 points 12:00 - hard boiled egg = 2 points 2:00 - Thomas Sweet No Fat Yogurt - Kiddie Cone Size = 4 points (oops) 6:30 - whole wheat buttermilk pancakes (ala Cooking Light) w/ syrup - 7 points 6:30 - strawberries = 1 point 6:30 - cantaloupe = 1 point 10:00 = columbo light strawberry yogurt = 2 points Total Points = 26 Remainder = ? Exercise = 0 Water = 3 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday April 20th, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 04/21/2004 06:01:13 PM ----- BODY: 8:15 Shredded Wheat - 3 points 8:15 1/2 cup milk - 1 point 10:00 banana - 2 points 1:15 - Tuna spumato = 3 points 1:15 - sliced cucumber = 0 points 1:15 - grape tomatoes = 0 points 7:00 - Roasted brussel sprouts = 0 points 7:00 - Pasta w/ Zuchini points = 8 points 7:00 - sliced strawberries = 1 point 8:30 - Light Ice Cream = 4 points 8:30 - sliced strawberries = 1 point Total Points = 23 F&V = enough Exercise = none Milk = 1 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Another Good Day (no exercise and not enough milk though) ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday April 21, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 04/21/2004 06:08:06 PM ----- BODY: 8:30 Frosted Shredded Wheat = 3 points 8:30 1/2 cup milk = 1 point 10:00 = cantaloupe = 1/2 point 12:00 = 6 inch turkey sub w/ extra lettuce and tomato = 5 points 3:00 banana = 2 points 4:30 - 94% fat free pop corn = 2 points Roasted Pork w/ Grape Sauce = 6 points Mashed Sweet Potatoes = 4 points Roasted Asparagus = 1 point Edy's Light Ice Cream = 4 Total Points = 28.5 Water = 6 Exercise None ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Good day but for lack of exercise. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: The Muddled Mess STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 04/29/2004 06:18:47 AM ----- BODY: So I knew I wanted to go to Puglia for my birthday trip. But saying you want to go to Puglia or Apullia as I've seen it, (by the way which is correct?) and actually doing it are two very different things. Puglia is friggin' big! Not to mention, I'm finding it incredibly difficult to find vacation rental possibilities in this region. The one's I've stumbled across are either too big, too expensive or way too far south. Yes, I'd like to see Lecce but I don't want to be 8 hours south of Rome - hold on...I just double checked Via Michelin and it clocks the trip at 5 1/2 hours which puts it back on the map. Well, but for the fact that it's 350 miles which to me translates to 7 hours, so I'm not to sure. Anyway....I've discovered these establishments called Masserias. Alright, I didn't "discover" them. I mean they've existed all along. I just found about them. Masserias are a cross between agritourismos, hotels and even in some cases fancy spas. They started out as fortified farm houses/communities (over the last few hundred years, this area of Italy has been raided by all sorts of different groups over and over). People would live within the fortified walls of these structures and now they're being converted to inns, bed and breakfasts and even hotels depending upon the size. The first one I "discovered" looked fantastic - decadent. San Dominico But at a whopping 320 Euro a night, I'm thinking way out of our price range. Then I found this place: Hotel del Levante Which seems ridiculously cheap but right on the beach. It seems like a family resort (not necessarily a good thing though when we get to travel without our kids). Yet, the more I thought about it the more I felt like it would be like staying at the Neville in Italy. So I went back to the Masseria concept and kept searching. That's when I found this place: Il Frantoio Okay - really need to do some work - I'll be back later. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Masserias are a cross between agritourismos, hotels and even in some cases fancy spas. They started out as fortified farm houses/communities (over the last few hundred years, this area of Italy has been raided by all sorts of different groups over and over). People would live within the fortified walls of these structures and now they're being converted to inns, bed and breakfasts and even hotels depending upon the size. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Treadmill Going No Where STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/05/2004 06:37:56 AM ----- BODY: Sometimes I think the hardest part about getting changing your lifestyle (e.g., eating healthy, exercising, getting plenty of rest) is getting started. Well at least that's how it looks from here in the cheap seats where every day I start out with the best of intentions. Today will be the day I start. Jeez, if I had a dollar for every time I said that, well I'd have a couple hundred. Okay - so one more time today is the day! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Formation of a Plan STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 05/05/2004 08:45:07 AM ----- BODY: I've been reading Insight Guides Southern Italy at night before I go to sleep. How many people read travel guides before bed? How many read them at all. Anyway - I've been doing this and have the beginnings of a plan for our trip. Here's how it will play out: Depart NJ on a Thursday. Arrive Rome on a Friday - spend day in Rome. Saturday morning depart for Puglia. Still Fuzzy Part A. Do we drive 1/2 way and find somewhere interesting to stay - perhaps on the Gargana Peninsula where I can visit Padre Pio's home town. I have a strange fascination with Padre Pio since we were in Rome for his Cannonization (right - that's the one where you become a saint ?) B. Drive straight through to stay at Masseria Fantoio. Okay - so we arrive at Ostuni on either Saturday or Sunday. While we're there, I want to visit: Martina Franca Ostuni The Trulli houses in that town with the really long name that I can't think of at the moment Lecce Some of Frederick's castles I also wouldn't mind hanging out and doing not much of anything, so we'll see how that all progresses. Fuzzy Part Again A. Depart on Friday - stay somewhere interesting overnight, and arrive in Montalciono on Saturday - I'm leaning this way. B. Depart on Saturday and drive straight through. Okay - once I'm done with Puglia overview (and I'm almost there), I'll start figuring out Montalcino. Wonder how long before I can contact rentals to make reservation..... ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: I Did It Again STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/06/2004 08:39:48 AM ----- BODY: Okay - I really don't feel like working today but I don't feel like blogging either. Yet given the choice, I'd rather blog than work. So just a little note about my early morning screw up. Woke with a major headache today and actually went to bed with it last night. It's a sinus thing and here in NJ I'd wager most of the population is suffering this week with a sinus thing. So how did I screw up? I'm a big baby. I won't take pills with water - it has to be with juice. I know. I know. Really - I'm not that big a baby except when it comes to this (chalk it up to being a sickly child). Anyway, I took two advil this morning with some ruby red grapefruit juice. You know the kind, not the real stuff but the stuff that's only 30% juice and the rest that high fruitcose corn syrup crappy stuff. Anyawy - 260 calories - 5 points later, I'm just sitting around waiting for my blood sugar to crash and the real craving/food binge to begin. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Procrastination....is making me wait STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/12/2004 06:55:36 AM ----- BODY: Did you ever notice how procrastination is the best friend to the person needs to change. Because you get to have all the best intentions while not having all the work. That's the mode I've been in for weeks now. I get to think about exercising and eating healthy but I don't actually have to do it. Funny thing though, my clothes aren't fitting any better using this methodology. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Here's the Goal STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/12/2004 07:22:02 AM ----- BODY: I want to lose 68 pounds or reach size 10 (whichever comes first) by Labor Day 2005. For size 10 purposes - we'll use LL Bean as my guide. I'm putting it into this context because I honestly have no idea what size I'll be when I lose 68 pounts but I'm thinking somewhere between a 10 and a 12. Here are the other things I want to accomplish by the end of this:
  • I want to run a 5K race
  • I want to ride my bicycle from one end of LBI to the other
  • I want to change the way I think about food - I'm no shrink, doctor or dietician but I know food needs to become a means to the end - not the be all end all - this one will be real tough!
I'm sure I'll add to this list as things progress. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Here's the Plan STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/12/2004 07:24:36 AM ----- BODY: Here are the things I'm going to do to help me get there:
  • I'm going to track everything I eat and drink on a daily basis (this has to be for the good or the bad)
  • I will eat at least 3 servings of vegetables a day and 2 servings of fruit (a good variety of both)
  • I will eat fish at least 2-3 times a week
  • I will exercise at least 2 1/2 hours a week (which works out to 30 minutes a day for 5 days). This one's going to be fluid though because I want to work it up to 5 hours a week eventually (including weight training).
  • I will drink 8 glasses of fluids (mostly water) a day
  • I will weigh a measure my food until I get a firm grip on what proper portion size means
  • I will record my exercise each day.
I'm figuring the above list will be fluid too b/c I have to learn as I go. Some tools I'm going to use: I've mentioned I'll be using the old Weight Watchers Point system (put trademark symbol here) just b/c it will give me a good idea of the quantity of food I can eat on a daily basis. I'm also reading Dr. Phil's book - not sure about this but I'm curious as to what he has to say. I want to finish this by Memorial Day Weekend. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: So It Begins....Again STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/13/2004 06:03:39 AM ----- BODY: Well, it's 7:00 AM and I'm off to the right start. I measured my cheerios this morning into a little zip loc bag. Normally, I just pour them in until it looks like enough. When I measured, I realized 1 Cup wasn't enough but the 2 Cups I ended up with is probably too much. Tomorrow, I'll compromise with 1 1/2 cups. Anyway - as I said, I want to lose 68 pounds by Labor Day Weekend 2005. With that kind of time frame and it's easy to get lost and do the starts and stops we've already talked about. So, I'm making a schedule with interim goals and rewards. Here - check this out - it's the weight goal/reward table:
GoalDue DateReward
10 Pounds July 8, 2004Morning at B&N
20 Pounds Sept 16, 2004Day in NYC (Sans Children)
30 Pounds Nov 11, 2004Massage
40 Pounds Jan 20, 2005
50 Pounds Mar 31, 2005
60 Pounds June 9, 2005
68 Pounds Sept 1, 2005
You get the gist - I need to think up some more rewards and I also want to come up with corresponding fitness goals. Oh and there are some rules/guidelines for this: 1. Rewards obviously can't be food oriented (i.e., no going out to dinner) 2. Clothing will not be a reward - heck if you drop 20 pounds, 30, 40 pounds etc., it should go without saying that you'll need new clothing. That's it for the moment - I want to check my e-mail and catch up on my boards (not to mention work) but I'll probably be back later. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: May 13, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/14/2004 06:23:59 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points/Point Total = 23 (oops) Breakfast 2 cups multi-grain cherios = 4 points Lunch Chunk White tuna (3 oz) = 2 points 1 lite English Muffin = 1 point 3 slices cucumber = 0 points Dip = 2 points Assorted fresh vegies = 0 points snack 1 C Honey Dew = 1 point Dinner Kielbasa Skillet Stew (2 Cups) = 8 points Dessert Edy's Lite Ice Cream (Chocolate Silk) = 4 points 1/2 Banana = 1 point Water = 5 cups Milk Products = 0 Vegies = 4+ Fruit = 2 No Exercise though :( ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: A good day food wise but I need to get the exercise going. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Comments Are Funny Things STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 05/14/2004 06:29:05 AM ----- BODY: Okay - here's the deal - Michelle posted a comment/question asking if I had any ideas for a similar trip Michelle is taking next week but I'm not sure the best way to answer. Do I do it within the blog or someother way? Hold on.....I have a thought.....yep - if I click on Michelle - I can get an e-mail address and respond that way. Okay - Michelle - look for my e-mail this morning! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: One Bad Morning STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/14/2004 06:46:42 AM ----- BODY: Did you ever have one of those mornings? First, I tried to log onto my work computer from home b/c next week I get to work home one day (school graduation - no parking - all non-essential personal should schedule off site meeting type of thing). I couldn't get on-line - either our modem or router was down. So I trapse (sp) downstairs (to the basement) to giggle cords and bank boxes until I see the lights flash again. Then I trapse back upstairs and sign on to the Internet. Next, I try to get into the system but I keep getting an Invalid Password Message. I'm pretty sure now that my password needs to be reset yet again but also that something's probably not working correctly. On the food front though, I started off on the right foot. I packaged my cheerios, took a container w/ some mixed fresh vegies (carrots, grape tomatoes, cucumber) and grabbed a Columbo Raspberry Yogurt (Columbo gives you an extra 2 ounces over Dannon - it's not so much as the quantity as the principle. Dannon reduced the size of their containers but didn't reduce the price - as if we wouldn't notice)! I also made myself another tuna fish sandwich for lunch. BTW - I make my tuna fish sandwich w/ Smart Balance mayo (1T = 10 calories and no fat) which isn't really half-bad. Anyway, as I'm driving to work, my cell phone rings. I hate when my cell phone rings while I'm driving. Especially at that hour b/c I'm thinking, one of the kids is sick. So I'm cruisin' down the road at 55 mph - debating whether I should let my voice mail pick it up or if I should answer - and at the same time, I'm blindly digging through my pocketbook searching for the stupid thing. Another thought, we have this thing all wrong. We shouldn't have tiny cell phones but darn big ones so their easy to grab w/o taking your eyes off the road. Of course, in 6 weeks it won't matter here b/c it will be illegal to talk and drive at the same time. Anyway, I finally grab the thing, of course, just as the ringer cuts out. Figures, but before I can put it down it starts again. Uh oh - emergency. I glance at the caller ID - sure enough - it's home. "Hello?" "Hey," It's not Peggy though, the woman who watches the girls for me in the morning, it's Chris. Chris, who was leaving right after me but obviously didn't. Chris, who knows I hate talking on the cell phone while I'm driving. So I give him the standard response, "What?" Yes - read that with the nastiest inflection possible. "You left your lunch on the counter (that nice tuna sandwhich I'd made), I'll drop it by on my way in." "You'll go out of your way like that?" "Sure, I know you're having a bad morning." Man....do I feel bad - what a nice guy. Of course, he'll probalby want sex tonight in return ;) but what the heck. On any normal morning, or day, that would have been an excuse to buy something horribly fattening for breakfast as a recourse (as in, well, I don't have my healthy lunch, so I might as well stop at Starbucks for a Cinnamon Chip Scone). Which, of course, would have led to I had that cinnamon chip scone for breakfast, so I might as well have fully loaded nachos for lunch - well you get the idea. Don't get me wrong, I still really want those fully loaded nachos for lunch, but for now, I'm going to start munching on my cheerios and hope the reasons I'm doing this returns to me before it's time for lunch. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: May 14, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/14/2004 09:47:07 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 21 - 29 points Bank = 6 points/Total Points = 22 (oops again) Breakfast 1 Cup Cheerios = 2 points Snack 1 Columbo Lite Raspberry Yogurt = 2 points Lunch Tuna Sandwich - 3 points cucumbers = 0 Salad w/ onion, red pepper, tomatoes and cukes - a bit of feta cheese - I'm guestimating = 2 points 1 orange = 1 point Snack microwave 94% fat free popcorn = 2 points Dinner 1 1/2 glasses Bruno Giacosa Barbera = 3 points Grilled Asparagus = 1 Cajun Corn on the Cob (from Cooking Light) = 2 Scallops in Bacon Bourbon Sauce (from Cooking Light) = 5 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Saturday, May 15 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/16/2004 07:48:15 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 23 - 29 Bank = 13 Total Points = 31 (-2 from bank) Breakfast Frosted Shredded Mini-Wheats - 4 points 1/2 cup of skim milk - 1 point lunch 1 homemade blintz - guestimatting 5 points snack 1 apple = 1 point Dinner 1 light beer = 2 points 1 piece shrimp sushi 1 piece salmon sushi 1 piece tuna sushi 3 pieces black pepper roll = total 5 pieces (roughly) 5 pieces shrimp/lobster tempura roll = 5 points 2 pieces = spider roll - guestimating 3 points Snack small ice cream cone (through 1/2 out and didn't eat the cone b/c a small had way too much chocolate ice cream) = 7 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Overall a good day but not enough fruits, vegetables or dairy - and definitely not enough exercise. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Sunday May 16 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/16/2004 01:11:28 PM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 Bank = 11/ Total Points = 27 Fruit = 1 Vegetables = 1 Breakfast Mexican Egg Beaters (1 cup) = 2 points Home Made Apple Spice Muffin (recipe from Cooking Light) = 3 pionts Coffee Lunch HN Lean Bologna (4 slices) = 2 points Lite english muffin = 1 point Glass of Water Snack 3 Glasses of Water = 0 points 1/2 bag popcorn = 1 point Orange = 1 point Dinner cup of egg drop soup = 1 point 1/2 egg roll = 2 points 1 dumpling = 1 point 1/2 cup brown rice = 3 points 1 1/2 cup chicken chow mein = 6 points Snack Light Ice cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Good day - ending a good week but still no exercise hmmm...on closer review not enough milk or f&v. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, May 17 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/17/2004 07:55:13 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 0 Points Used = 20 Fruit/Vegie = 3 Breakfast 24 frosted min-wheats = 3 points 1/2 cup milk = 1 point 2 cups decaf coffee = 0 points Lunch 1 cup chicken chow mein = 4 points 1/2 cup brown rice = 2 points 1 oragne = 1 point 2 Glasses Water Snack Cup of caffeine Coffee = 0 points Dinner Crispy Fish Sticks (Cooking Light 1/96) = 3 points Cheese Fries (Cooking Light 7/96) = 4 points Crispy Zucchini Coins (Cooking Light 10/97) = 2 points Yes - I was in a "fried" food mood. Snack Bryers Frech Chocolate Lite Ice Cream (1/2 cup) = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Too little points and bad day for fruit and vegies and exercise! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: I'm Hungry STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/17/2004 09:58:52 AM ----- BODY: Okay - I'm not really sure if I'm hungry or if I just feel like eating - know what I mean? I'm thinking it's more like I feel like eating - "hungry in my throat" Only thing is I forgot to bring some fruit with me this morning, which is what I'd normally reach for. I could have my yogurt but I'm already at 4 points for this morning and I have a decent size lunch....I know I'm being wishy-washy. I'm drinking some coffee, hoping that takes the edge off but it's really not working. Times like these I wonder - do other people, normal fit people, get these "cravings" or do they really stay satisfied from breakfast to lunch? Maybe they just stay occupied? I am working pretty diligently - other than my sneak away to post this stuff but still.... You know - I wonder about what other people, without weight issues do. The woman, who sits behind me at work, arrives every morning with neat little packets of pre-measured food, a sandwich, some chips, a vegetable, some sliced apple - I think she brings enough to have something almost every hour she's here. Maybe that's an idea? Of course, she also brings two cans of coca-cola - which is definitely a big no-no for me. Yet she's still pretty fit. Wow - 11:00 - now I'm starting to have real hunger but I'm eating lunch at 11:30 today, so hopefully I can make it. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, May 18 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/18/2004 09:06:37 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 9 ; total Points = 24 Vegetables = 5 Milk = 1 Breakfast Apple Spice Muffin (Cooking Light 10/96) = 3 points Snack Columbo Light Strawberry Yogurt = 2 points Lunch Crispy Fish Sticks = 3 lite English Muffin = 1 piece of chocolate = 1 sliced cucumber and carrots = 0 Dinner 2 Cheese Meatloaf (Cooking Light 1998) = 6 1 Cup Whole Wheat Couscous = 3 Green Beans w/ Lemon & Browned Garlic (2 C) = 2 Snack Bryers Lite Ice Cream = 3 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Good day but no exercise! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: The Problem With Scales STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/18/2004 09:15:31 AM ----- BODY: I don't own a very good scale. It's the old-fashioned kind that has the spin around dial (my good is to get it to not spin around more than once - which of course gives you a hint as to how overweight I am)...anyway, I digress. The problem with this scale or any scale is it's availability. I have a tendency to get on the scale each morning when I'm in a healthy kick. It's a great thing when the scale shows me down a substantial amount (like on Saturday when it said I was down 3 pounds), but it's lousy on a morning like today when it shows me down only two. Forget the fact that intellectually I know your body weight can fluctuate as much as 5 pounds within the day. Forget the fact that scale placement on my floor can affect a reading. Forget the fact that the difference could be pre-shower and post-shower - it just shows a pound gain and it's discouraging. I need to find a way to limit my scale fix to once a week. Don't think I could survive more than that. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesay, May 19 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/19/2004 08:10:30 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 14; Points = 28 Vegetables = 7 Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheats = 3 1/2 Cup Skim Milk = 1 2 cups decaf coffee Lunch 2-cheese Meatloaf = 6 Browned Garlic and Lemon Green Beans = 1 Sliced Cucumbers = 0 Baby Carrots = 0 2 Glasses water = 0 Snack 1 Chocolate covered Strawberry = 1 point 1 cup of coffee Snack Banana = 2 points Dinner Lasanga (1 1/2 C) = 9 Salad = 1 Green Beans Marinara = 1 Snack Bryers French Chocolate Lite = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday, May 20 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/20/2004 09:32:47 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 15; Points = 29 Fruit & Vegetables = 5 Breakfast Shredded Wheat = 3 points 1/2 cup skim milk = 1 point Lunch - not as good as I should have been; not as bad as I could have been. Chinese Don't ask me to recount b/c it was a dumpling here, a shrimp there - let's say 13 points and call it a day. Snack Popcorn = 1 Dinner Sweet BBQ Chicken (Cooking Light, 1998) = 4 points Corn on the Cob = 2 points Roasted Asparagus = 0 points Watermelon = 1 point Snack 1 cup sliced strawberries = 1 Edy's Lite mint ice cream = 3 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Stay away from Chinese Food Buffets = good dinner though ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week One Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/20/2004 09:33:22 AM ----- BODY: Lost 3 pounds - but man I need to start exercising! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Friday, May 21 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/21/2004 10:19:05 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 15 Total Points = 24 Fruit & Vegetable = 5 Breakfast 1/2 poppyseed bagel 1 t cream cheese = 4 points Snack 1/4 cinnamon raisin bagel, 1 t peanut butter = 2 points Lunch 2 bbq chicken legs left over from night before = 4 points sliced cucumbers and baby carrots = 0 points 1/2 mango = 1 point Snack 1/2 mango = 1 point Dinner Filet Mignon (6 oz) = not sure 6 points (need to double check) Grilled Eggplant = 1 point 1/2 cup fava beans w/ pepper and some pecorino = 3 points 1 glass Shafer Firebreak = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Not enough milk - again no exercise. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday May 24 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/24/2004 11:42:37 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 0; Points = 22 Water = 4 F&V = 5 Milk = 0 Breakfast 1 1/2 cups multi-grain cheerios = 3 points Snack 1 orange = 1 point Lunch sliced cucumbers and carrots = 0 points 5 slices hebrew nat'l turkey = 1 point 1 slice hebrew nat'l lean salami = 1 point 1 lite enlgish muffin = 1 point Snack Mango = 2 points (this one was good and juicy). Dinner Kielbassa Skillet Stew 1 1/2 cups (6 points) Whole Wheat Couscous 1 cup = 3 points 1 Cup Melon = 1 point Snack Edy's choc mint lite ice cream (1/2 cup) = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Healthy Living Without Exercise Is Just a Diet STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/25/2004 06:05:01 AM ----- BODY: Still no exercise. Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy exercising it just feels as if lately I really do have no time. I'd love to hear back from working mothers who work out everyday. When do you do it? I'm up at 5:15 to just get done what I need to do before I leave for work at 6:30 - things like make my lunch, move a load of laundry along, maybe sort laundry, feed and walk the dog, straighten up a bit and shower, dress and then I'm gone. When I get home, it feels as if I'm always too tired or too busy - just doing normal stuff. Do I need to get up at 4:45 (which would put me to sleep by 9:00) or do I need to put other things on hold when I get home, give me a kick in the butt and get moving? But what about the kids play dates, afterschool activity and general errands I need to take care of - I just don't know...... I do know, I need to figure this out! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesay May 25th STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/25/2004 09:57:13 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 7; Points = 24 F&V = 5 Water = 4 Milk = 1 Exercise = 30 Minutes on Lifecycle = 3 points Breakfast 1 1/2 cups cheerios (found the perfect container) = 3 points Snack Columbo Lite Blueberry Yogurt = 2 points Lunch 1 Cup Kielbassa Skillet Stew = 4 points 1/2 cup (bit more) whole wheat cous cous = 2 points baby carrots, grape tomatoes, sliced red pepper = 0 Snack cantaloupe = 1 point Dinner Ribollita (2 cups) = not sure but I'll guestimate 8 points Snack low fat banana cake = 4 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: We Have Exercise! STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/26/2004 05:58:04 AM ----- BODY: Yep - I did thirty minutes on my lifecycle yesterday at level 6 - bummed about that because I was fast approaching level 7 when last I rode. Still - level 6 doesn't suck. That translates, in its terms, to 10.8 miles and about 220 calories burned - cool. I started with the hill routine - got a foot cramp, changed shoes and so finished with the random routine (a nice change of pace) - felt good and I'm looking forward to doing it again this afternoon. I also did 3 sets of 10 reps of bicep curls and tricep thingies (you know where you lift the dumbell above and behind your head - I need to do these in front of a mirror so I don't clunk myselves). I know there are people out there who hate the idea of doing cardio "indoors" but I prefer to take the attitude that the important thing is to get moving wherevever and however your schedule and lifestyle allows. So when no one is home to watch the girls early in the morning, it will be indoor exercise for me. Though, now that Chris is back, I may set the alarm for early tomorrow morning (weather permitting) and go for a pre-sunrise walk. Takes a lot to get my fat ass moving but once I do, I'm pretty good about keeping it moving. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday May 26 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/26/2004 08:05:00 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Points = 25; Bank = 15 Water = 5 F&V = 4 Milk = 0 Exercise = 30 minutes lifecycle level 7 = 3 points Breakfast 1 1/2 cups multi-grain cheerios = 3 points Lunch 1/2 of a 1/2 of a turkey sub w/ lettuce, tomato, onion, hot peppers and vinegar ( no oil) - about 4" = 5 points 1 cup pineapple = 1 point Snack 1/2 piece of lowfat banana cake = 2 points Snack 1/2 cup Mango = 1 point Dinner Vegetable Lasagna - went to a function at the synagogue and this was the "best option" - took a small piece so I'm guestimating at 8 points salad with no fat dressing = 1 point Snack a bit more than 1/2 cup lite mint ice cream = 4 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Good day with exercise but not enough fruit and vegetables or milk. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday May 27 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/27/2004 12:54:43 PM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 22; Points = 25 F&V = 6 Milk = 1 Exercise = Walked - 30 minutes, slow with the kids = 1 point Water = 5 Breakfast 1 1/2 cups multi-grain cheerios = 3 points Lunch 5 slices HN turkey breast = 1 point 1 slice HN lean salami = 1 point 1 lite english muffin = 1 point baby carrots and grape tomatoes = 0 Snack 94% Fat Free Popcorn = 1 point 1 cup cantaloupe = 1 point Dinner 1 Grilled Pork Chop = 6 points 1 Grilled Corn on the Cob = 2 points Grilled Eggplant = 1 point 1 Cup Strawberries = 1 point 1 Cup Watermellon = 1 point Snacks Chewy Bar = 2 points Columbo Mixed Berry Yogurt = 2 points 1 bit of raisins and kashi go lean crunch = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: A Good Day - with enough points, some exercise and at least a milk serving ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 2 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/27/2004 01:10:53 PM ----- BODY: Down 1 more pound - given my jump earlier this week, I'll take that! Drum Roll..... Grand Total = 4 pounds....now if I just don't blow it while we're in Orlando this weekend. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: You Deserve It STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 05/28/2004 06:05:52 AM ----- BODY: As I was packing up my food for the day, I debated bringing my multi-grain cheerios or stopping at Dunkin Donuts instead for coffee and well ... something. I figured it was a good opportunity to stop since I had to go to the bank this morning to get cash for our trip, and my alternate route would take me past a Dunkin Donuts. As I was debating with myself, I heard a voice say, "C'mon, you deserve it." Alright, don't panic. I'm not Schyzo (sp). But did it ever feel like two people arguing inside you? In Judaism, there's are terms (Hebrew or Yiddish - I can't remember) for the Good Inclination or the Evil Inclination. In my mind, I always picture them like the old Bugs Bunny cartoons when Bugs would have a tiny version of himself, dressed as an angel, telling him to leave Elmer Fudd alone, and another tiny version of him, dressed as a devil, convinncing him to clunk Elmer in the head. That's how I felt this morning - too tiny (yes in my delusions I can be tiny) versions of me arguing the merits of stopping for that donut, scone, muffin, whatever and not stopping. You Deserve It. It took a moment for my good guy (well, at least I think it's the good guy otherwise this entire healthy living scenario is a big dupe), to ask "How do I deserve a donut?" "Why do I deserve tight pants?" "Why do I deserve panting to walk up the steps?" That pretty much shut up ol' evil-doer until she came back with - "ah well, you're going away for the weekend tonight, and you're going to blow it then anyway, so you might as well start now." Ouch. I may "blow it" this weekend. I may not but I'm not letting that little pipsqueak get the best of me ..... at least not at the moment. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Friday, May 28 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 05/28/2004 06:11:36 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Bank = 27; Points = 0 F&V = Milk = Exercise = Water = Breakfast Cheerios = 3 Lunch Yogurt = 2 Popcorn = 2 Snack Strawberry Banana Smoothie = 5 Salad = 1 Dinner Yeah - yeah - Coconut Shrimp = ??? Jerk Shrimp = ??? Calamari = ??? Lite Beer = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: I know - bad day but our plane landed late and by the time we got our rental car, all we were in the mood for was some picky foods and a beer, so we sat outside at bahama breeze and did just that. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Saturday, May 29 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/04/2004 06:05:26 AM ----- BODY: Water = about 8 glasses through the day - it was hot! Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheat and Skim Milk = 3 Lunch 1/2 vegie wrap = 5 points 1/2 banana = 1 point 1/2 bag chips = 1 point Snack Love Potion #9 = orange juice, pineapple juice, granadine and coconut rum mmmm.... Dinner Grilled Radichio Salad w/ Asparagus and basil vinagarette Roasted Quail with apple something stuffing Seared Shrimp and Scallops Hazelnut souffle (only 1/2) 2 glasses Domaine Drouhine I know ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Okay - get the picture - we were away and though I didn't follow points, I did vow to write everything down and that's what I'm doing. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Sunday, May 30 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/04/2004 06:10:02 AM ----- BODY: Exercise - 30 minute walk in unbearable heat (plus all over Epcot). Water = at least 10 glasses Breakfast Some egg beater vegie omelet at Dennys w/ 1/2 dry English Muffin = about 7 points Lunch One piece of fish from fish and chips a few sips of Chris's beer Snack Love Potion #9 (see Saturday May 29) Pretzels = 3 Dinner Sushi Appetizer Sauteed Walu Grilled Swordfish - but trust me both prepared pretty fancifully Sorbet 2 Glasses White Wine (A Pinot Blanc out Oregon - can't remember the name but it reminded me of the Grecco di Tufo that we drink) ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Another big dinner but good in Orlando - this time at Roys. No points but still keeping track of what I ate. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, May 31 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/04/2004 06:14:10 AM ----- BODY: Water = at least 8 glasses Breakfast Shredded Wheat w/ Skim Milk = 4 points Lunch Mesquite Grilled Chicken on a Bed of lettuce, tomatoes and onions = guestimating about 6 points Snack 1/2 Corona Light = 1 point Pretzels = 3 points Some fufu drink at the bar before dinner - can't rememember name but it had peach shnaps and coconut rum Dinner Crostini misti appetizer (tomatoes, mushrooms w/ cheese, roasted peppers) = 1/2 of each Osso Bucco w/ risotto (ate about half - mine's better) Can't remember if I had dessert or not. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Another big day - this time dinner at Palio. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, June 1 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/04/2004 06:17:57 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Points = 27; Bank = 0 F&V = 1 Water = 4 Exercise = 0 Milk = 0 Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheat w/ Skim Milk = 4 points Lunch Split Pea Soup = 4 points 1/2 Grilled Chicken Sandwhich = 5 points Dinner Turkey Bratwurst = 4 points Hot Dog Roll = 3 points Baked Beans = 3 points Cantaloupe = 1 point Snack Turkey Hill Lite Mint Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, June 2 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/04/2004 06:20:51 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Points = 23; Bank = 2 F&V = 5 Water = 4 Exercise = 0 Milk = 1 Breakfast Yogurt = 2 points Cantaloupe = 1 point Lunch Mixed Salad w/ Grilled Chicken on Top = 5 points Snack Mango = 1 point Dinner Egg Roll = 4 points 1 cup chicken chow mein = 6 points 1/4 cup brown rice = 1 point Snack Turkey Hill Lite Mint Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday, June 3 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/04/2004 06:24:52 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Points = 22; Bank = 8 F&V = 1 Water = 4 Exercise = 0 Milk = 1 Breakfast Bagel = 6 points Lunch Wonton Soup (2 wontons) = 2 points Cherries (about 30) = 2 points Snack Columbo Lite Mixed Berry Yogurt = 2 points Dinner 1 1/2 cups my Chili = 4 points Snack Lite ice cream = 3 points Snack I should have just gone to bed but I didn't Apple Cinnamon Cheerios = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Need more fruit, vegies and water. Couldn't exercise b/c I threw my back out on Wednesday. It's getting better and I hope to start exercising again by Saturday. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 3 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 06/04/2004 06:25:33 AM ----- BODY: No Change But heck, given the weekend I had, I'm happy to come out of it the same. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, June 7 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/08/2004 09:09:28 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Points = 21 Bank = 0 F&V = 5 Milk = 1 Water = 5 Exercise = 0 Breakfast Frosted shredded wheats and skim milk = 4 Lunch 6 pieces california roll = 4 points (I think) Sliced Cucumbers = 0 Cherry Tomatoes = 0 Snack Mango = 1 Dinner Pasta w/ Arugula and Shaved Parmesan = 7 Mixed Green Salad w/ Yellow Pepper & No Fat Dressing = 1 Snack Bryers Lite Ice Cream - van/choc/straw = 4 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Didn't reach my minimum, didn't exercise and need more water - not a good day. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tueday, June 8 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/08/2004 09:11:08 AM ----- BODY: Points Range = 24 - 29; Points = 21 Bank = 8 F&V = 0 Milk = 1 Water = Exercise = Breakfast Frosted shredded wheats and skim milk = 4 Lunch Snack Dinner Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 4 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 06/16/2004 12:40:43 PM ----- BODY: Lost another pound - (for a total of five pounds) I know, I'm late in posting but I've gotten way behind in everything. Hope to catch up soon. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday June 14 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/16/2004 01:00:35 PM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points - 25; Bank = 0 F&V = 5 Milk = 1 Exercise = 0 Water = 6 Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheat (double serving) = 4 Skim Milk = 2 Lunch Cantaloupe = 2 Cottage Cheese = 2 Snack Columbo Yogurt = 2 Dinner Pasta w/ Arugula, and Shaved parmegiano (CL 5/98) = 7 points Salad = 2 points Snack Bryers Lite Ice Cream = 4 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, June 15 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/16/2004 01:03:46 PM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points - 29; Bank = 4 F&V = 4 Milk = 0 Exercise = 0 Water = 4 Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheat (double serving) = 4 Skim Milk = 2 Lunch Pasta w/ Arugula and Shaved Parmesan = 7 Snack Dinner Cool Cajun Burgers (CL 6/03) = 9 points Corn on the Cob = 1 Grilled Eggplant = 1 Watermelon = 1 Snack Lollipop = 1 Lite Ice Cream = 3 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, June 16 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/16/2004 01:06:13 PM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points - 25; Bank = 4 F&V = 4 Milk = 1 Exercise = 0 Water = 5 Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheat (double serving) = 4 Skim Milk = 2 Lunch Vegetarian Burritto = 8 Snack Dinner Stuffed Shells = 9 Salad = 1 point Snack Watermelon = 1 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: I Want Something Sweet STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 06/17/2004 06:56:18 AM ----- BODY: I'm so tired; I can barely keep my eyes open. Do you know what I can really go for, a chocolate crossaint ..... or cinnamon scone ..... or something along those lines. When I get exhausted I want stuff like that - aw heck I just want to eat. Oh and my coffee wasn't hot this morning - I hate when my coffee's luke warm by the time I get to work. I feel ripped off. Maybe I'll walk over to the bagel store, get a cinammon raisin bagel and a hot cup of coffee. You know what, that actually sounds like it could work for me. I have a snackpack of cottage cheese in the fridge and I could put that atop the bagel. It would be a high point breakfast but definitely better than that chocolate crossiant....well better as in healthier not necessarily better tasting. I wonder if they have whole wheat bagels - did you ever notice that whole wheat bagels have a sort of slightly sweety nutty taste? The bagel store by us isn't great. I always say I could make a killing here by opening a bagel store. That could be fun - bagels and muffins in the morning - hot soups in the afternoon - close in the afternoons in the summer (when the kids aren't here anymore). I wonder what's involved in opening a small business like that? I wonder what's involved in baking bagels - maybe I should get a job in a bagel store and see.... Man - got the real stream of conciousness rolling this morning. Again, exhaustion lends itself to many strange things. I'm waiting for Sharon to arrive, to see if she wants a bagel, then off to the bagel store; it's a good compromise. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 5 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 06/17/2004 07:01:32 AM ----- BODY: Down another pound - for a whopping grand total of 6 pounds - heck - that's not too shabby. Oh and this morning I threw out (well donated) a bunch of fat clothes. I have a couple more skirts to go (will do that in a few more weeks) - which I'll get rid of at the end of the summer. I also ordered some pants from LL Bean that will be a bit too tight but should be fine within a few more weeks. Oh and did I mention I threw my back out 10 days ago - it's better now but it threw a kink in my exercise. I'll be starting again today. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: How You Can Tell STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 06/23/2004 05:20:21 AM ----- BODY: Do you know how you can tell whether I'm "sticking to program" or not. Simple, if I'm logging my food, I'm doing pretty good. If I'm not, well you can bet I'm gorging on something I shouldn't be. Take yesterday for example, pretty sure I could have done without that big bucket of stovetop-popped popcorn. Oh well. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday June 28 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/29/2004 11:52:39 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points - 23; Bank = 0 F&V = 2 Milk = 0 Exercise = 30 minutes - 3 sets of 10 reps triceps/biceps = 3 points Water = 5 Breakfast 1 1/2 Cups Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Lunch Adobo Pork w/ Grilled Pinapple Salsa (CL 9/99) = 6 points Snack Blueberries = 1 point Dinner Hamburger = 8 points Green Beans = 1 Snack Lite Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: More fruit and vegies needed today. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday June 29 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 06/29/2004 11:57:11 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 9 ; Bank = 9 F&V = 3 Milk = 0 Exercise = 30 minutes life cycle Water = 3 Breakfast 1 1/2 Cups Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Lunch Mixed Green Salad w/ hard boiled egg, chickpeas - and a bit of dressing - 4 points Pretzel Nuggets = 2 (100 calories , fat = 0, fiber = 2) Snack Blueberries = 1 point Dinner Hamburger = 8 points Green Beans = 1 Snack Lite Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 6 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 06/29/2004 01:21:46 PM ----- BODY: Another 1.5 pounds - it's hard to tell on my scale since it's not digital but I'm thinking that's a good indication. Yipee - 7.5 pounds! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 7 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 07/01/2004 06:56:56 AM ----- BODY: 2.5 Pounds - yeah for me, reached my 10 pound goal a week early. Detect little enthusiasm in that statement? It's cause I'm exhausted. Do you want to know the real secret to weight loss sucess, have 4 kids ages 8, 9, 10 and 11 living with you and sign them up for swim team. You won't have time to eat. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: A Conundrum STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 07/19/2004 08:54:35 AM ----- BODY: It's been a while since I've been here and my pants tell the tale but I'll catch up on my exploits later. Now, I want to discuss a conundrum I have. Chris started to run. When you ask him why, he replies, "Because I feel like running." Okay Forrest, whatever you say. In the meantime though, you're wondering, what's the problem? Chris has been a couch potato since college; isn't it a good think that he's moving now? Absolutely. Chris runs or works out now (he's expanded to the lifecycle on his off days), no matter what. Meaning, it doesn't matter that there's laundry to fold and put a way, a lawn to mow, lightbulbs burned out all over the house, Chris runs/exercises every day and that pisses me off! It pisses me off because he's allowed to get away with that and I'm not. I'm the one who needs to make sure the laundry gets put away, the kids get fed, etc. He takes off running, and I'm left home doing chores. But here's the conundrum - the problem - the unanswerable burr in my brain. At the same time I'm angry at him for abandoning me for his new found obsession, I'm totally impressed and respectful of his ability and determination to stick with it. I'm also jealous. Why can he run off when there's stuff to be done, and I can't? It's not fair. Yet, I think the fact remains, he gets to do it because he's choosing to do it, and I'm not. So at what point does everyday life go from being an obstacle to overcome to an excuse? ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, July 19 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 07/19/2004 09:04:56 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 26 ; Bank = 0 F&V = 5 Milk = 0 Exercise = 0 Water = 4 Breakfast 1 1/2 Cups Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Snack Grapes = 1 point Lunch Chunky Soup = 6 points Snack Popcorn = 2 points Peach = 1 point Dinner Kielbasa Skillet Stew = 4 points Couscous = 4 points Fried Green Tomato = 2 points Snack Lite Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, July 20 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 07/20/2004 08:09:13 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = ; Bank = 3 F&V = 0 Milk = 1 Exercise = 0 Water = Breakfast Shredded Wheat = 4 points Skim Milk = 2 points Snack Tiny Milkway (bad Kim) = 2 points Lunch Snack Dinner Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, July 26 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 07/26/2004 07:50:05 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 28 ; Bank = 0 F&V = 5 Milk = 2 Exercise = 24 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 7; 8.64 Miles; 3 sets of 12 reps - bicep and tricep exercises = 2 points Water = 6 Breakfast Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Snack Lunch Mixed Green Salad w/ chickpeas and light dressing = 3 Hard Boiled Egg = 2 Snack 94% Fat free popcorn = 1 point No-Fat Blueberry Yogurt = 2 points Bad Girl - Honey Nut Cheerios = 3 points Dinner 1 cup Chicken Chow Mein = 6 points 1/4 cup Brown Rice = 1 point Wonton Soup = 2 1/2 Egg Roll = 2 points Snack Lite Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: You Feel As Good as You Look STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 07/26/2004 10:22:02 AM ----- BODY: Personally, I've never believed that. I'm the kid that would wear the torn jeans to school on the first day much to my mother's chagrin. My reasoning, eventually, the teacher's going to see me in my torn jeans and tee shirt, so it might as well be today. Under the same philosophy, I would stop at a fast food restaurant on the way home from purchasing a new car. My reasoning, eventually, I'm going to eat and drink in my new car, so it might as well be today. Anyway, applying this philosophy to other areas of life, I'm the person you see walking down the street, or in the gym, or on my lifecycle, in torn, faded, oversized shorts and a stained, torn or faded tee shirt (of some sort). I don't wear my beaten up sneakers any more though because I've learned, you need to be good to your feet. I could never understand those men and women who could step out of the gym into a fashion magazine with their bright color spandex outfits, mutli-striped shirts, etc. Truth though, I was slightly jealous of them too because in the back of my mind, I figured those types of outfits would never fit me. Now here comes Chris with his new "get up and go" lifestyle, which, by the way, is shocking all of us. I still think he's hit a mid-life crisis (I mean he's shaved his head, he's working out, he wants sex all the time and he's considering a tatoo - c'mon - who's he trying to kid), but I digress. Chris jogs now (though he'd probably prefer me to call it running). I guess the jogging's not totally surprising because, contrary to current belief, Chris used to be an active guy, playing varsity soccer in High School (nice thighs). It was only after college, that he became the banner boy for couch potatoes. Anyway....Chris is jogging and what's the first thing Chris does? He goes to the sporting goods store (he prefers Dicks over Models or Sports Authority) and he buys himself a few pairs of jogging shorts and matching shirts (he prefers New Balance). Chris turned into one of them .... the pod people (I won't even mention the preaching he's been doing to me about exercise - perhaps that will be tomorrow's topic). So Saturday, in the midst of our errands, he wants to stop at Dick's because he needs another pair of jogging shorts and he wants some stuff to get for his bike. Bike? Yep, he's picking up his bike from it's storage place at his aunt's and intends to start riding again (another story here). Okay, I'm game - I'll stop at Dick's with him. So after we pick out his additional jogging outfit, odometer for his bike, a new bike helmet for me (another topic), a cheap tennis racket and balls for Becky (tennis is the next sport she wants to "try"), we spy some women's work-out clothes on the way to the register and Chris suggests I get some shorts and a top. Now I'm flushed - why? Because deep down I know (believe) they won't fit and I'll once again be embarrased by my weight. But, cornered, I agree, and tell him to pick out some shorts and matching top in extra large. Peach - he picks peach???!!??? Okay - whatever, it can't be any worse than the Marie Calender's shirt I normally wear to the gym (on some other warped principle) that says, "Life's Short; Eat Dessert First." We get home, and the new snazzy outfit gets draped over the easy chair (with other assorted clean laundry) hopefully to never be heard from again. Yesterday, after a huge brunch with the Lehigh Girls at Blue Water Grill, I get home to find Chris wants to take a walk with me - "Oh, and try on the new shorts and stuff we bought," he says. Gulp. So - I do - and you know what? The shorts fit and they're darn comfortable. The top's too tight to wear in public, but it felt pretty good when I wore it in the privacy of my bedroom this morning to do the lifecycle. I went to LL Bean this morning and purchased some oft desired bike shorts and snazzy yellow and black striped top - who knows - if these fit, this could be a whole new world - life with the pod people. But I'll tell you one thing, it felt darn good walking with my husband yesterday in my new peach walking shorts. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, July 27 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 07/27/2004 08:03:53 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 27.5; Bank = 3 F&V = 2 Milk = 2 Exercise = 20 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 8; 7.2 Miles; 3 sets of 12 reps situps; 8 leg lifts (I suck at these) = 2 points Water = 3 Breakfast Shredded Wheat = 4 Skim Milk = 2 Snack Lunch 1/2 cup Chicken Chow Mein = 3 points 1/2 cup Brown Rice = 2 Snack Grapes = 1 Hot Cocoa = 1 Dinner Subway Oriental Chicken & onion sub = 10 points 1/2 pack baked doritos = 1.5 points Snack Lite Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, July 28 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 07/28/2004 06:41:47 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 31.5; Bank = 6.5 F&V = 1 Milk = 2 Exercise = 30 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 7; 10.8 Miles; 3 sets of 12 reps bicep and tricep (8# weight) = 3 points Water = 8 Breakfast Shredded Wheat = 4 Skim Milk = 2 Snack Apple = 1 point Lunch 1/2 Grilled Chicken Sandwich = 6 Fries = 3 Snack Pretzels (1/2 bag) = 1.5 Dinner 1 Slice Pizza = 9 points Snack Honey Nut Cheerios = 3 Skim Milk = 2 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Today's going to be a tough day because I have that training class. It could be totally engaging and time will fly by or, as I fear, totally boring and lead to what else but eating. Oh and tonight - swim meet - but it's the last one - yipee!! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday, July 29, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 07/29/2004 02:00:58 PM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 12; Bank = 7 F&V = 4 Milk = 1 Exercise = 30 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 7; 10.8 Miles; 3 sets of 12 reps situps = 3 points Water = 2 Breakfast Shredded Wheat = 3 Skim Milk = 2 Snack Lunch Grilled Chicken Salad = 6 Snack Cantaloupe = 1 Dinner Snack Honey Nut Cheerios = 3 Skim Milk = 2 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, August 4 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/04/2004 05:48:35 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 28; Bank = F&V = 3 Milk = 1 Exercise = 30 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 7; 10.8 Miles; 3 sets of 12 bicep and tricep = 3 points Water = 4 Breakfast Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Snack Columbo No Fat Cherry Vanilla Yogurt (good but too much Cherry and not enough Vanilla) = 2 points Lunch 1 Cup Chili = 7 points Snack Dinner Stuffed Shells (Cooking Light Recipe) = 10 points Salad (spinach, tomatoes, cuces, red onion) = 1 point Snack Popcorn = 4 points Nectarine = 1 point ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday, August 5 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/05/2004 05:28:21 AM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 25; Bank = 4 F&V = 5 Milk = 1 Exercise = 30 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 7; 10.8 Miles; 3 sets of 12 situps = 3 points Water = 4 Breakfast Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Snack Lunch Zucchini Rice Casserole = 4 points 1/4 Cantaloupe = 1 point Snack Dinner Smoked Turkey Almond Mole (CL) = 7 points Basmati Rice = 4 points Braised Peppers = 1 point Snack Shredded Wheat = 3 points Skim Milk = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Friday, August 6 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/06/2004 06:10:04 PM ----- BODY: Points Range 24 - 29; Points = 31 ; Bank = 11 F&V = Milk = Exercise = 30 Minutes; Lifecycle; Level 7; 10.8 Miles; 3 sets of 15 bicep and tricep = 3 points Water = 2 Breakfast Reduced Fat Orange something or other from Starbucks (guestimating) = 7 points Snack Lunch 1/2 Roast Beef Sandwich on Rye = 7 points Spinach Salad Snack 2 chocolate covered pretzels (my bad) - 2 oz = 7 points (yikes - if I'd known that I would have stopped at one!! Dinner Filet Mignon = 5 points Grilled Potatoes = 3 points Grilled Zucchini = 0 points Red Wine = 2 points Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, August 9, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/09/2004 07:04:12 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 0 Points Used = 24 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 1.5 Water = 8 (yeah for me!) Exercise = 30 minutes lifecycle level 7, 10.8 miles; 3 sets of 12 reps of sit-ups = 3 points Breakfast Multi-grain Cheerios = 3 points 2 cups decaf coffee = 0 points Snack Lunch HN lean Bologna (4 slices) = 2 points 1 Lite English Muffin = 1 points Lite Yogurt (mixed berry) = 2 points 1 White Nectarine = 1 point Snack 1 White Nectarine = 1 point Sliced Cucumbers, cherry tomatoes and red peppers = 0 Dinner 2 97% fat free Hebrew National Hot Dogs = 2 points (they're not half bad) 1 Wonder Hot Dog Roll = 2 points 1 Cup Heinz Vegie Beans = 4 points Sauteed Zuchini and onions = 0 points Snack Frosted Flakes (my bad - I could write an entire dissertation on how many great days were ruined by sweet cereal and why) = 3 points Peach w/ swiss miss low fat pudding = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Let's try to get through 7 days of journaling. Bet if I do, I will definitely lose weight this week! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: The Captain and Me STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 08/10/2004 07:06:25 AM ----- BODY: I mentioned in yesterday's food log how a sweet cold cereal can ruin me every time.....my personal favorite is Captain Crunch - straight out of the box or with a big bowl of milk - yumm!!! Actually, my favorite used to be Quisp. Anyone remember Quisp? He was the alien character with the little propeller sticking out of his head. I think Quaker used to make him. Years ago, when we lived in St. Louis, I saw Quisp but it was in the bags of "generic" cereal and it wasn't called Quisp. Anyway - so what's my point. Honestly, I don't think I have one today. I just want to relive the moments in my life when it was acceptable to eat sugar and milk for breakfast or to sit on the couch, in front of cartoons, and eat Captain Crunch out of the box. It has to be plain Captain Crunch though - none of that peanut butter stuff. Though sometimes I could get into the one with the berries or even the one with the whale. Now there's something, who remembers the whale one? It had vanilla flavoring. Sometimes I think I dreamed that flavor up along with the yodels that had white icing - oooh boy oh boy. Now, I eat multi-grain cheerios for breakfast and the last time I had a Yodel...I'd like to say it was years ago but it wasn't. I took Becky to Junior Congregation last winter and the treat (aka oneg) afterwards was Yodels. I didn't eat an entire Yodel, just a small bite of Becky's. I let it sit on my mouth until it practically disintegrated and remembered the days when mom used to keep them in the bread drawer as an acceptable snack. I miss those days. I miss the "carefreeness" of them before I had to worry about calories, fat and exercise. And as I write, I'd like to get to the point where I could say I'm much happier now and feel much better now that I workout and eat food that's good for me. Truth? I don't. As I write, I've come to the conclusion that once every so often, it should be okay to sit down with a bowl of Captain Crunch or Frosted Flakes, or even a Yodel and a glass of milk. I'm not saying every day - but once or twice a year - it shouldn't be such a big deal....as long as I exercise I little extra to make up for it. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, August 10, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/10/2004 07:11:42 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 8 Points Used = 29 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 1 Water = 5 Exercise = 30 minutes lifecycle level 7 & 8, 10.8 miles; 3 sets of 15 reps of bicep and tricep curls = 3 points Breakfast 1 power bagel = 5 points breakstone cottage cheese = 2 points 2 cups decaf coffee = 0 points Snack Lunch Turkey BLT on Toasted Rye = 6 points Cantaloupe = 1 Snack Columbo Lite Blueberry Yogurt = 2 points Dinner Desk Set Chicken (Cooking Light) = 6 points Corn muffin (my recipe) = 3 points Braised Peppers = 0 Cantadew (We call it that b/c to us, it tastes like a cross between a cantaloupe and a honey dew but it's really a Crenshaw melon) = 1 Snack Lite Ice Cream = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, August 11 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/12/2004 09:43:07 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 11 Points Used = 34 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 2 Water = 6 Exercise = Breakfast 1 Lowfat Corn Muffin = 3 points Snack Cantaloupe = 1 point Lunch Grilled Chicken Salad = 7 points Snack Dinner Wonton Soup = 2 points Egg Roll = 5 points Beef and Brocolli = 5 points Brown Rice = 4 points Snack 2 Glasses Skim Milk = 4 points 1 Lowfat Corn Muffin = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: My relapse hit me full force - so this ended up being a lost day - but I need to get going again so I'm not blowing the entire week. I'm not blowing the entire week. I'm not blowing the entire week. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday, August 12, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/12/2004 09:46:36 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 6 Points Used = Fruit/Vegie = Milk = Water = Exercise = Breakfast Multi-Grain Cheerios = 3 points Snack Lunch HN Lean Bologna = 2 points Lite English Muffin = 1 point Cantaloupe = 1 point Yellow Grape Tomatoes = 0 points Snack 1 oz pretzels = 2 points Dinner Turkey Meat Loaf = 5 points Mashed Potatos = 3 points Salad = 1 point Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Week 13 Results STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 08/12/2004 09:56:43 AM ----- BODY: Well, there aren't any results because I haven't lost any weight since Week 7. On the flip side, I haven't gained anything either. I'm only posting this because I figure you deserve an update. I'm also figuring I need to get my ass in gear!! Hmmmm....am I allowed to say ass here. Chris's workout regiment though is starting to inspire me; so although I didn't work out yesterday and my alarm didn't go off this morning (power outage), which blew my workout this morning. I'm bound and determined, to make dinner as soon as I get home, make a phone call, and then get on the lifecycle to do my 30 minute work out. The other thing I'm upto - Chris is entering a 5K walk/run: Gelman Foundation. He's going to run the 5K but Becky and I are going to enter to walk. Sammi may join us. At first I hesitated because book club is at my house that night but I'm figuring - what the heck? You know, what am I waiting for? ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Top Ten STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 08/14/2004 10:58:14 AM ----- BODY: Last night, at my aunt's, my cousin decided that sloppy Joes "are definitely in the top ten." Now before I go any further, let me clarify Sloppy Joes. We're not talking about the ground beef sandwiches in a tomato based sauce. We're talking Jewish Sloppy Joes, the kind you eat at a bris or a funeral. Corn Beef, Turkey (and I think Roast Beef but it could be something else), slopped with coleslaw on wedged between three thin slices of rye bread slathered with Russian dressing. You'll usually see these on a tray next to a bowl of pickles, olives, peppers and pickled green tomatoes. Okay - back to our story - the occasion for my cousin's revelation, a family get-together at my aunt's. Originally, she planned a barbeque but with the thread of torrential downpours from the twin storms making their way up the coast (well, actually single storm, since the female petered out), she opted to bring in sloppy joes. I, of course, promptly agreed with my cousin, but this also led me to contemplate what other foods I might include in my top ten list.....here's what I'm thinking so far - in no particular order: Warm apple pie w/ chocolate ice cream Chocolate Chip Cookies Brownie with a big glass of milk Hot Dogs (my aunt concurs) Pizza (again my aunt concurs) The aforementioned Sloppy Joes A bowl of chili and cornbread Stuffed Cabbage Pasta - prepared almost anyway Fruit (melons, strawberries, blue berries, peaches, nectarines, grapes, bananas, apples - well anything in season). Someone else mentioned lasagna but I don't agree besides my pasta catch-all covers it. As I reviewed my list it occured to me - perhaps this is one (and I say one) of the reasons why I struggle with my weight. Sure, fruit made the list but it barely made it in lieue of the previously discussed Captain Crunch. How could fruit beat out Captian Cruch? Well, simply when it came down to which food could I live w/o for the rest of my life, it was the Captain - I go crazy if I don't eat any fruits for a few days (I start crave del monte canned peaches - scary)! Okay - anyway, I digressed. Look at that list! Other than the fruit, and maybe the pasta (prepared certain ways) and if we push it my chili with my healthy cornbread are really the only "healthy" things on that list. Do you see brown rice, whole wheat bread, fish, yogurt - any other stuff I need to regularly eat now on that list? Do you see nachoes smothered with beef and cheese? No, but I blew it yesterday having those for lunch. Figure if I bury that in the middle of this dissertation, nobody will see. So now what? Do I ban myself from my top ten? Definitely not because as I already mentioned it's never the foods in my top ten that seem to trip me up. It's all this other piddly crap. So, I ask again, now what? Honestly, I have no flippin' idea. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, August 16, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/16/2004 11:54:45 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = Points Used = 22 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 0 Water = 6 Exercise = 33 minutes lifecycle level 8, 11.88 miles = 3 points Breakfast Sliced Tomato on Portughese roll = 3 Snack Lunch 6 pieces California Roll (no avocado) = 4 points Wonton Soup = 2 Snack White Nectarine = 1 point Dinner Chicken Noodle Bake (CL 1996) = 7 points Arugula & Fig Salad = 1 point Cantaloupe = 1 point Snack Homemade Peach Ice Cream (CL 8/04) = 3 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Yeah - I know I blew it last week, but I'm trying again!! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, August 17, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/17/2004 07:03:58 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 9 Points Used = 28 Fruit/Vegie = 6 Milk = 2 Water = 4 Exercise = 33 minutes lifecycle level 8, 11.88 miles = 3 points; 3 sets of 15 reps, biceps and triceps Breakfast Multi-grain Cheerios = 3 2 cups of coffee (1 regular and 1 decaf) = 0 Snack Peach = 1 point Lunch Chicken Noodle Bake (CL 1996) = 7 points Arugula and Fig Salad = 1 point Snack Nectarine = 1 point Blueberry Yogurt = 2 points Dinner Prosciutto, Arugula and Gruyere Calzones = 6 points Tomato Basil Soup = 2 points Cucumber Mango Salad = 1 point Snack Apple Cinamon Cheerios = 2 Milk = 2 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, August 18 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/19/2004 11:22:32 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 12 Points Used = 32 Fruit/Vegie = 1 Milk = Water = 6 Exercise = None - sick kid - I should have but didn't - I'm a putz. Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheats = 3 Skim Milk = 2 2 cups of coffee (1 regular and 1 decaf) = 0 Lunch Chicken Noodle Bake (CL 1996) = 7 points Snack Grapes = 1 Dinner - Bad Girl Egg Roll = 5 Fried Rice = 5 Shrimp & Lobster Sauce = 9 Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday, August 19, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/19/2004 11:27:53 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 9 Points Used = 25 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 1 Water = 10 Exercise = 33 minutes, level 8, 11.88 miles = 3 points Breakfast Multi-grain cheerios = 3 2 cups of coffee (1 regular and 1 decaf) = 0 Lunch Stromboli = 6 Sliced Tomato = 0 Snack Swiss Miss Lite Hot Cocoa = 1 point Dinner Hamburger, Cheddar & Macaroni Bake (CL 8/04) = 9 points Sauteed Zucchini & Onion = 0 point Mango Cucumber Salad (CL 8/04) = 1 point Snack peach ice cream = 3 points lf vanila pudding = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: I did it!!! 8:00 at night, I hadn't yet exercised and I did it!!! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Friday August 20, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/20/2004 06:29:29 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 15 Points Used = 34 Fruit/Vegie = 2 Milk = 0 Water = 8 Exercise = Breakfast Reduced Fat Cinnamon Swirl Bread = 6 points Lunch Bowl of Chili = 6 points melon = 1 Snack Baked Chips = 2 points Dinner 1/2 Grilled Chicken Sandwich = 6 Crenshaw Melon = 1 Snack Pretzels = 2 Carvel Ice Cream = 10 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: This will be a tough day - Yankee game tonight. I need to check out Dottie's weight loss zone to find out how many points in a hot pretzel. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Saturday, August 21, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/21/2004 12:53:11 PM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 10 Points Used = 36 Fruit/Vegie = 1 Milk = 1 Water = 8 Exercise = 40 minutes life cycle level 8, 14.4 miles (I think) = 4 points Breakfast Shredded Wheat w/ Skim milk = 5 Lunch Egg Beater = 2 Half Bagel = 3 melon = 1 Snack popcorn = 2 Dinner Filet Mignon = 6 Potatoes Delfina = 6 Red Wine = 4 Snack ice cream = 7 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Sunday, August 22, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/22/2004 06:23:49 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 7 Points Used = 34.5 Fruit/Vegie = 2 Milk = 0 Water = 8 Exercise = Walked 3+ Miles in about 50 minutes = 4 points Breakfast 1/2 Bagel w/ little bit cream cheese and sliced tomato = 3.5 Lunch Turkey sandwhich on 1 slice rye bread = 5 points sliced tomatoes = 0 green bean and mushroom salad = 2 Snack raisins and nuts = 5 Dinner 1/2 cup manhattan clam chowder = 2 points Salad = 1 1/2 baked potato = 1.5 Sauted Seafood Dish = = 12 points (I'm guestimating) Snack 1/2 white nectarine = .5 low fat vanilla pudding = 2 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, August 23, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/23/2004 07:53:40 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = Points Used = 27 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 1 Water = 6 Exercise = 40 minutes life cycle level 8, 14.4 miles = 4 points Breakfast Multin Grain Cheerios = 3 points Columbo Blueberry Yogurt = 2 Snack Peach = 1 Popcorn = 2 Lunch HN Lean Bologna = 2 points Lite English Muffin = 1 point Assorted Vegies w/ LF Ranch Dressing = 1 point Snack Coffee = 0 Yikes - did it again!!! Apple Cinnamon Cheerios = 4 points Dinner Kielbasa Skillet Stew = 8 points Snack White peach = 1 point Low Fat Vanilla Pudding = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: I'm Really Hungry Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 08/23/2004 10:44:49 AM ----- BODY: And I don't mean I'm bored hungry or procrastinating hungry. I'm really hungry as in I feel as if my blood sugar is low hungry. Yes, I know a bit about blood sugar low hungry because I had gestational diabetes through two pregnancies and had to test my blood sugar at every meal. So this morning I've had my normal cheerios, a peach, some blueberry yogurt and now I'm munching on some popcorn. Yeah, I know too, I probably should have had a banana or orange or something along those lines but while I felt that my blood sugar was low I really don't think it was. I think it's the zyrtec I'm taking making me feel that way, so I was looking for something that I thought would fill me up rather than something that will raise my blood sugar. Wait - a new development may have occurred. I'll be back in a moment. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday, August 24, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/24/2004 06:37:36 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 6 Points Used = Fruit/Vegie = Milk = Water = Exercise = 40 minutes on the lifecycle; level 8 = 14.40 miles = 4 points Breakfast Munchkin = 2 Snack Lunch oatmeal raisin cookie = 3 Grilled Chicken Sandwich (really quarter sandwich) = 4 Roasted Eggplant Sandwhich (really quarter sandwhich) = 4 Potato salad (1/4 cup) guestimating 3 Snack Dinner Coconut Shrimp = Ginger Chicken West Indian Curried Shrimp Ground Provisions = 4 Rice and Beans = 4 Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: Oh forget this - someone brought in bear claws and munchkins and we're bringing lunch in - this sucks! I better forget about getting into the city early and work out instead although it means sitting in traffic. ----- EXCERPT: I have no idea what today is going to bring. I'm meeting friends for dinner for Caribean food - I've been all over Dotties Weight Loss Zone and have no idea how to figure points for this stuff. Should be interesting. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday, August 26, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/25/2004 11:31:42 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 0 Points Used = Fruit/Vegie = 2 Milk = 1 Water = 2 Exercise = Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheat = 3 points Milk = 2 points Snack Lunch 1/4 Turkey Sandwich = 4 points Mixed Greens Salad = 0 Snack Dinner Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Dinner tonight at an Italian restaurant....since yesterday's wash, just trying to keep it together tonight. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, October 18, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/18/2004 09:22:44 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 0 Points Used = 21 Fruit/Vegie = 3 Milk = 2 Water = 5 Exercise = 20 minutes on life cycle, level 6 = 2 points; 36 situps (3 sets of 12) Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Regular Coffe = 0 points Decaf Coffee = 0 points Snack Hot Chocolate = 1 point Lunch HN Lean Salami - 2 points Lite English Muffin = 1 point Apple = 1 point Water = 0 points Snack Decaf Coffee = 0 points Columbo Yogurt = 2 points Dinner 15 Bean Soup (need to figure out points when I get home) = 4 points Leftover Braised Cabbage = (check points at home) = 1 point Crescent Roll = 4 points Water Snack Decaf Coffee = 0 points Turkey Hill LF Ice Cream = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: I'm back after a way too long hiatus - did you miss me? ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Did You Miss Me STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 10/18/2004 10:11:27 AM ----- BODY: Okay, so I'm a screw up. Yes it's been almost two months since I last participated in my grandios plans to get healthy and lose weight. And you know what I've done since I last checked in? Zip. Nada. Niente. Oh well. I'm playing that game any more so I'm updating my goal dates and we start this entire friggin' thing over again. I'm off to find the entry with the old dates and off we'll go. ----- EXTENDED BODY: Okay - no fancy formatting for now b/c my head hurts and i'm hungry soly b/c I know I can't eat (don't you hate that) - so here's the plan. 68 pounds to go: 10 pounds by July 8 - Morning at B&N w/ $50 gift certificate - I did this 20 pounds by December 30 - Day in NYC, no kids 30 pounds by March 17 - A Massage 40 pounds by May 26 = Broadway Show (this will be interesting) 50 pounds by August 4 = Diamond Stud Earings 60 pounds by October 13 = Weekend at the beach (alone) 68 pounds by December 8 = One Week in Italy. ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday October 19, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/19/2004 08:44:31 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 10 Points Used = 26 Fruit/Vegie = 2 Milk = 1 Water = 4 Exercise = 0 Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Regular Coffe = 0 points Decaf Coffee = 0 points Snack Lunch Bean Soup = 4 points 1/2 BLT (no mayo, turkey bacon) = 4 Snack 94% Fat Free Microwave popcorn = 1 Dinner Whole Wheat Buttermilk pancakes = 7 points Stewed Cinnamon Apples = 2 points Snack Hot Cocoa (calcium fortified) = 1 point LF Banana Bread = 4 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Bad day - need more fruit & vegies, milk and exercise ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wednesday 18 October, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/20/2004 08:17:01 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 13 Points Used = 22 Fruit/Vegie = 4 Milk = 1 Water = 6 Exercise = 30 minutes on lifecycle - weight loss routine - speed 2 - 2.8 mph elevation varied between 4 & 8 (screwed up b/c paused in middle to answer phone and didn't restart correctly) = 3 points Breakfast Apple = 1 point Decaf Coffee = 0 points Snack Regular Coffe = 0 points hard boiled egg = 2 points box of honey nut cheerios = 2 points Lunch Wild Mushroom Bisque (Au Bon Pan) = 3 points Multi-Grain Roll = 2 points Decaf Coffee Snack Banana = 2 points Water Dinner 3 Steamed Dumplings = 3 1/2 cup Brown Rice = 2 points 1 1/2 cups Chicken & Brocoli = 3 points Snack Lite Ice Cream = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Thursday October 21, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/21/2004 09:28:47 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 23 Points Used = 23 Fruit/Vegie = 4 Milk = 0 Water = 8 Exercise = 30 minutes on the lifecycle (1.? miles, 600+ calories - weight loss routine) = 3 points Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Decaf Coffee = 0 points Snack Regular Coffe = 0 points Lunch Chicken & Brocoli = 2 points 1/2 cup brown rice = 2 points Snack 2 cups Water = 0 Dinner Pasta w/ Spinach, Radicchio and Feta = 10 points Snack 2/3 Dunkin Donuts Whole Wheat Donut (sammi ate the rest) = 4 points Turkey Hill Lite Ice Cream = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Need to get more milk and vegies in! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Friday October 22, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/22/2004 06:48:45 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 32 Points Used = 0 Fruit/Vegie = 0 Milk = 0 Water = Exercise = Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Coffee = 0 points Snack Lunch Chicken & Brocoli = 2 points 1/2 cup brown rice = 2 points Snack Dinner Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Tonight we're going to a dinner dance - should be interesting! ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: A Bust STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 10/26/2004 04:38:31 AM ----- BODY: Okay, so the weekend was a bust but we had an awsome time. First at the Celebrate..... our town's anniversary party. Much bigger than I imagined and an open bar from 6:00 - 9:30 (then cash). Yeah, we took advantage of that. A great swing band played until about 8:30 - The "something" Somers Orchestra - wonderful. Then Saturday, we went to the Hunt (aka the Races at Far Hills). I've never been but man - such decadence. Our friend's firm hires a cater and this is one amazing tailgate. As a matter of fact, I think that's what the Hunt is all about - the tailgate - picture 50,000 people tailgating with an occassional horse race run in the distance. Oh sure, you watch the race - either in person if your close enough to the track, or on these huge giant screen televisions they have positioned strategically around this big open field. Either way, it's not about the race, it's about the food (and drink). I don't think they poured one bottle of wine that prices less than $50 a bottle a nd there was no end in sight. Of course, we started with mimosa's then moved on to red wine (brunellos, barolo's and some great California Cabernets) but they also had an incredible selection of beer to (my favorite autumn drink - Hacker Pschorr Oktoberfest). Through all this drinking, people are walking around with hor d'erves (yeah - you spell that). Mini lamb chops with a sort of pesto sauce, these sun-dried tomato and goat cheese fried wontons, chicken satay in a peanut sauce - yumm, plus a selection of cheese, dried fruit and shrimp cocktail. Follow this up with a huge buffet (salad, ham, turkey, salmon, beef tenderloin, some curry rice salad type of dish, fresh rolls, and probably a few other things that I'm missing. They close out the day with dessert - cookies of every type, mini fruit-tarts, blonde brownies - I'm telling you just decadence. Needless to say - the weekend was a major bust but hey - you gotta let loose sometimes. We'll see how Thursday's weigh-in goes before I'll say how bad. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Monday, October 25, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/26/2004 09:37:37 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 0 Points Used = 24 Fruit/Vegie = 3 Milk = 1 Water = 4 Exercise = 0 Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Coffee = 0 points Hot Chocolate = 1 point Snack Microwave Popcorn = 2 points Lunch Pea Soup = 2 points Bologna on Lite English Muffin = 3 points Snack Apple = 1 point Dinner Salt Bagel (3/4) = 4 points Eggs = 6 points Roasted Brussel Sprouts = 0 points Snack Lite Ice Cream = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Tuesday October 26, 2004 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 10/26/2004 09:39:13 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 5 Points Used = 21.5 Fruit/Vegie = 4 Milk = 1 Water = Exercise = 0 Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Coffee = 0 points Hot Chocolate = 1 point Snack Apple = 1 point Lunch Au Bon Pain's Harvest Pumpkin Soup - yummy = 4 points 1/2 Cheddar Jalapeno Bagel = 3.5 points Snack Banana = 2 points Dinner Chicken & Brocolli = 2 points Brown Rice = 2 points 3 Dumplings = 3 points Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: January 3, 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 2 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 01/04/2005 09:25:05 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 6 Points Used = 27 Fruit/Vegie = 2 Milk = 6 Water = 6 Exercise = 40 minutes on the life cycle (half level 6, half level 7) = 4 points Breakfast Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Decaf Coffee = 0 points Snack Microwave Popcorn = 2 points Lunch 4 inches turkey sub = 4 points Snack Apple = 1 point Yogurt = 2 points Dinner Prosciutto & Mozzarella Panini = 8 points Tomato Basil Soup = 2 points Roasted Brussel Sprouts = 0 points Snack Low fat frozen yogurt (3/4 cup) = 3 points banana = 2 point ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: January 4, 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 2 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 01/04/2005 09:31:26 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 6 Points Used = 32 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 1 Water = 4 Exercise = 30 minutes treadmill weight loss routine = 3 points Breakfast Cottage Cheese = 2 points Snack Instant Oatmeal = 3 points Lunch Lentil Soup = 4 points Bread = 2 points Snack Microwave popcorn = 2 Milk Duds = 5 (yeah you read that right, I blew that but good) Dinner Chicken Tetrazinni (CL 4/02) = 7 points Grapefruite = 2 points Orange = 1 point Snack LF Yogurt = 3 points 1 small banana = 1 point ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: January 5, 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 01/05/2005 01:17:23 PM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 6 Points Used = Fruit/Vegie = Milk = 1 Water = Exercise = Breakfast Shredded Mini Wheat = 3 1% Milk = 2 Snack Lunch Cannelini Bean Soup = 4 points Snack Dinner Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: January 10, 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 01/11/2005 10:03:30 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 0 Points Used = 24 Fruit/Vegie = 6 Milk = 2 Water = 4 Exercise = 0 (feeling sick) Breakfast Frosted Shredded Wheats = 3 points Skim Milk = 2 points Snack Spekel Pears = 1 point Lunch Wonton Soup = 3 points Snack Grapefruit = 2 points Dinner Coconut oven fried chicken (CL) = 5 points Mashed Potato = 2 points Brocolli Rabbe = 0 points Snack Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake = 4 points Skim Milk = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: January 11, 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 01/11/2005 10:26:57 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 5 Points Used = 24 Fruit/Vegie = 5 Milk = 1 Water = 4 Exercise = 45 minutes on the lifecylce = 5 points Breakfast Cottage Cheese = 2 points Strawberries = 1 point Snack Piece Coconut Banana Bread (CL) = 4 points V8 Juice (small can) = 0 points - it's borderline and i'm taking it. Lunch Coconut Oven-Fried Chicken = 5 points Popcorn = 1 point Snack Grapes = 1 point Dinner Red Beans & Sausage = 4 points Roasted Brussel Sprouts = 0 points Snack Chocolate Chip Bundt Cake = 4 points Glass of Skim Milk = 2 points ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: January 12, 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 01/12/2005 09:46:03 AM ----- BODY: Point Range = 24 - 29 points. Bank = 15 Points Used = Fruit/Vegie = 0 Milk = 1 Water = 0 Exercise = Breakfast Shredded MiniWheat = 3 points Skim Milk = 2 points Snack Lunch Pompeii sandwich from legends: Roasted Pepper = 0 points Roasted Eggplant = 0 points Mozzarella = 3 points Italian Roll = 3 points Snack Dinner Snack ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Quirianale Restaurants, Stores, Cafes & Bars STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 DATE: 01/17/2005 03:22:43 PM ----- BODY: La Lampada Via Quintino Sella, 25 Rome 00187 +39 064744323 (Closed 2 weeks in January – yikes) Chris and I ate here on our first trip to Rome in 1999. Every time we return we hope to dine here again but we haven't made it. Maybe this trip. They specialize in truffle and mushroom dishes. La Villa di PizzaRè Via Lucullo, 22 Rome 00187 +39 0642013075 Giarrosto Toscano Via Campania, 29, Phone: 06.482.1899 Closing day: Thursday Il Regno di Napoli (from http://www.wcities.com) Via Romagna, 22 Rome 00187 +39 064745025 Ristorante Cesarina (from http://www.wcities.com) Via Piemonte, 109 Rome 00187 +39 064880828 Caffe Pasticceria Via Sardegna 19-21, Phone: 06.4821902 Ristorante Giovanni Via marche, 64, Phone: 06 4821834 Closing day: Friday night and Saturday lunch Vladimiro, Ristorante Marcello Via Aurora, 37- Via Veneto 00187, Phone: 06.481.94.67 Giovanni Riposati(from http://www.wcities.com) Via delle Muratte, 8 Rome 00187 Barberini +39 066792866 Trimani Via Goito, 20 Rome 00185 Castro Pretorio +39 064469661 AS Roma Store Piazza Colona n360 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Here's a list of restaurants, cafes and bars we may visit while exploring Quirinale. Our first restaurant choice is La Lampada, but if it's closed, at least we'll have some other selections to choose from. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Vaticano - Restaurants, Stores, Cafes and Bars STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 DATE: 01/17/2005 03:48:29 PM ----- BODY: San Marco Via Tacito, 27/29, Phone: 06.32.35.596 Reviewed by: Sandra Pierce from IL When: 2004 Excellent tucked-away pizzeria with good food and very friendly staff. Tre Pupazzi Via dei Tre Pupazzi, 1 Rome 00193 +39 066868371 This restaurant was also mentioned in Fodors. Il Simposio di Costantini Piazza Cavour, 16 Rome 00193 +39 063211502 Castroni Via Cola di Rienzo 196, Rome, Italy Phone: 06/6874383 Open Hours: 7.30am-8pm Mon-Sat From Pecepe (a poster on slowtalk): If you want a treat take a ten minute walk to the market on the corner of Via Cola di Rienzo and Via Terenzio, next door to Castroni which is at Via Cola di Rienzo, 196. If Castroni doesn't have the very best coffee in Rome then it is in the top tier. The market next door has counters full of walk-away food, cheeses, salume, sandwiches etc. These two stores are about a ten-minute walk from the Castel Sant Angelo, and from there to the Vatican is about another ten minute walk. Since there are many shops as you walk along Via di Rienzo it may take a little longer as you window shop. Check Mapblast or Michelin for the map of the area from which you can print your routes. AS RomaVia Cola di Rienzo 136, Rome, Italy ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Our dilema for the Vaticano area is lunch. We have a 1:45 reservation for the Scavi tour and must arrive by 1:30 which only allows us time for a quick bite after visiting Castel S. Angelo. Would have loved to try Il Simposio di Costantini, but it appears they're not open for lunch on the weekends. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: FORA/MONTI/CELIO - Restaurants, Stores, Bars & Cafes STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 DATE: 01/17/2005 04:00:36 PM ----- BODY: La Bottega del Cioccolato Via Leonina, 82 Rome 00184 Cavour +39 064821473 Nunc est Bibendum Via Celimontana 32, Phone: 06.77.20.1145 Pizzeria li Rioni a Santiquattro Via SS. Quattro, 24, Phone: 704.50.605 Closing day: Tuesday Trattoria Luzzi Via dei San Giovanni in Laterano ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Trastevere - Restaurants, Stores, Cafes & Bars STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 DATE: 01/17/2005 04:07:52 PM ----- BODY: Augusto Piazza dei Renzi 15, Phone: 5803798 Closing day: Sunday Checco er Carettiere Via Benedetta, 10, Phone: 06.581.7018 Taverna Piscinula Piazza in Piscinula, 47, Rome, Phone: 06.5812525 Bernabei dal 1933 Viale Trastevere, 93 Via Luca della Robia, 24/28 Rome 00153 +39 065812818 ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Campidoglio/Pantheon/Ghetto - Restaurants, Stores, Cafes and Bars STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 DATE: 01/17/2005 04:15:36 PM ----- BODY: La Deliziosa Vicolo Savelli, 50 Rome 00186 +39 0668803155 La Taste Via Pié di Marmo, 34 Rome 00186 +39 0669922186 Moriondo & Gariglio Via del Piè di Marmo, 21/22 Rome 00186 +39 066990856 Taverna del Campo Piazza Campo dei Fiori, 16 Rome 00186 +39 066874402 Abbey Theatre Via del Governo Vecchio, 51/53 Rome 00186 +39 066861341 John Bull Pub Corso Vittorio Emanuele II, 107a Rome 00186 +39 066871537 Jazz Cafè Via Zanardelli, 12 Rome 00186 +39 066861990 Alla Corte del Vino Via Monte della Farina, 43 Rome 00186 +39 0668307568 Caffe Chiostro di Bramante Via della Pace, Phone: 06.68809098 La Fiaschetta Via dei Cappellari 64, Phone: 06.6830.1551 Closing day: Monday ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: Some places not far from our hotel. ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: The Plan - Roma 2005 STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 CATEGORY: Rome, 2005 DATE: 01/19/2005 09:26:49 AM ----- BODY: We arrive Friday morning around 7:45 to Fuimicino. This trip Max Leotta is picking us up and taking us to our hotel the Teatro Pace. Ah - another note, this trip we're bring Red Bull with us. Chris claims that this drink has some sort of chemical in it that convinces your body it has slept (and therefore gives you more energy). I think it's either hokey or that it's chock-full of caffeine. Either way, we're testing it out on Friday. We've pretty much divided our days by Neighborhood. You can see on the other entries for this category the restaurants, stores, cafes and bars we've noted in each area. Our primary sources of information are: Slow Travel Wcities Rome in Detail published by Rizzoli Blue Guide to Rome City Secrets Rome I've printed off information from both websites, so those combined w/ the maps and information within the books will serve as our primary guides. Friday - Quirinale Why Quirinale? Two reasons, 1) I want to see Santa Maria Della Vitoria or more specifically Bernini's Agony of St. Theresa. 2) Chris wants to have lunch at Trattoria La Lampada in the hopes of snagging those truffles that alluded him on our last trip. I've warned him, he may be searching in vain. Roberto from Teatro Pace e-mailed me this morning, and we're all set for our lunch reservations at Lampada. After lunch, and hopefully a brief nap, we're meeting Daphne from 3 Milenium Tours for a tour of three local enoteccas (or is that ennotecche). For dinner Friday night, we're visiting an old favorite, Ristorante Abbruzi. Saturday - Vaticano We have reservatons for the Scavi Tour at 1:45, to which we're both looking forward. We'll visit Castel S. Angelo in the morning, grab a quick bite for lunch then head over to the cathedral. After the tour, nap time and maybe a visit to one of the previous evenings wine bars. Dinner tonight is at Checchino Dal 1887 to celebrate Chris's 40th birthday and snag some Buon Riccordo plates. Sunday - Foro Actually - we're going to skirt the neighborhood around the Forum/Collosseum. I want to visit St. Piero in Vincoli to see the Moses statue. Chris wants to visit the Circus Maximus (I keep telling him it's a big open field that we've passed a dozen times but he doesn't believe me). While we're in the area we'll also visit Santa Maria in Cosmedin to see the mouth of truth and see whatever else hits our fancy. We're planning on Abruzzi for dinner again, unless something horrendous happens Friday night. Monday - Trastevere We've never been in this area of Rome so today we're doing some exploring. We'll head out via Isola Tiverina and visit Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, Santa Maria in Trastevere and San Francesco a Ripa among other places. Tonight, we're having dinner w/ Tony Polzer, Danjiela (sp) and Daphne - Tony's picking the place. Tuesday - well, Tuesday it's back home on a 9:55 flight. A quick trip but hopefully a good one! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Wow It's Been a While STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 02/12/2005 11:00:02 AM ----- BODY: Yeah, I know, I'm a bad blogger but what with working and the kids...excuses, excuses. But now, since I've removed one of those impediments (no I didn't get rid of the kids), I'm hoping to have more free time here. Well, The Italy 2005 Extravaganza is shaping up nicely. Most of the high level planning and reservations have been taken care of. Here's the current itinerary: Depart May 12 from JFK for Roma. We'll land about eight in the morning and hope to have someone from Roma Limo pick us up and take us to their offices at the Sheraton in EUR. We've rented a car through Auto Europe and are scheduled to pick it up there on Friday morning. From there, we'll hit the road and head to Silvi in Abruzzi (hopefully about a 2 1/2 hour ride). We have reservations that evening at Le Macine just outside Silvi. Our current plan is to have lunch at a Buon Riccordo restaurant nearby, Vecchia Silvi and dinner at the Agritourismo. Chris says it looks so great there, he may never want to leave. Side note: If anything planning this trip has accomplished so far, it's been to increase my desire to explore Abruzzo. On Saturday May 14, we'll drive down the coast for our stay outside Ostuni at IL Frantoio. So far on our agenda is a day trip to Bari (okay for lunch at another BR place), a day trip to Alborabello (yet another BR place) and one more day trip to Lecce. The other days - well beach time. Heck depending on the weather, I'm not sure what we'll actually accomplish and what we won't. On Friday May 20th, we depart and make the long drive to Frascati to stay at yet another BR hotel/restaurant, Cacciani. We hope to arrive there mid to late afternoon, relax a bit, have dinner, and explore the town the next morning before we drive to Montalcino for our week's stay. Originally we rented, Ruga Alta through Project Travel International but two weeks ago Luigi contacted us to tell us that construction would soon be starting on the building next door to Ruga Alta and they believed it would interfere too much with our enjoyment of our accomodations and offered to move us to Vicolo Due another appartment, down the street which is actually an upgrade but they offered it to us at the same price. We believe Luigi has been more than fair with accomodation change and we're still happy we booked with him. On tap for our time in Montalcino: we're spending a day with Peter Kilby, a trip to San Galgano, meeting Kaydee (from slowtalk) for lunch and a lot of wine tasting and relaxation. I'll be back as we get into the nuts and bolts of daily activities. Enjoy. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Back Against the Wall - To Do List STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 05/08/2005 08:58:18 AM ----- BODY: Well, unbelievabley we leave on Thursday and mild panic is setting in. I need to pack. I need to contact the other parents in the area that will be supporting my parents....well I need to do a lot of s***. Anyway, here comes the to do list. Later, I'll enter the packing list. To Do
  • Give mom an insurance card
  • Call credit card companies (i.e., we're in Italy don't block our friggin' cards again!)
  • Cook Kielbasa skillet stew and freeze
  • Cook Chicken Tettrazini and freeze bagged
Okay - completed:
  • Make paper look old for Becky's Social Studies project
  • Charge Italian Cell Phone
  • Photocopy passports
  • Pack
  • Pick up Birtday present for party Sammi has
  • Pick up drycleaning
  • Pick up Chris's Allergy Medication
  • Write note for Lisa picking up Becky from school on 5/20
  • Create our itinerary copy for Mom
  • Cook Mac & Cheese Casserole and freeze
  • Pay Bills
  • Planted garden and beds (well one bed left that Becky's doing tomorrow)
  • Print out the kids schedule
  • Print out list of phone numbers
  • Contact carpool parents, let them know Mom's taking over for two weeks.
  • Print out medical release letter
  • Remind Lisa of days she's picking up Becky; remind Becky
  • Cleaned off camera's flash cards
  • Charge Ipod
  • Charge palm and synced
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Need to Pack STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 CATEGORY: Italy Planning 2005 DATE: 05/10/2005 05:43:40 PM ----- BODY: What am I taking Clothing
  • Six tops
  • tan pants
  • stone pants
  • tan skirt
  • sandals
  • black shoes (they're really short boots and I'm still going back and forth on these)
  • underpants (6)
  • bras (3)
  • bike pants
  • bike shirt
  • walking shorts
  • tee shirt
  • bathing suit
  • one pair shorts
  • exercise socks (2 pair)
Electronics
  • Ipod
  • Palm
  • Phone
  • Camera
  • Phone Charger
  • Ipod Car Charger
  • Camera Charger
  • FM Transmitter for IPOD
Books
  • Centro Atlas
  • Sud Atlas
  • Blue Guide Southern Italy
  • Some Tuscan Guide Book
  • Restaurant List
  • Random Notes
  • Grapes of Wrath
  • Vanila Beans and Brodo
  • Covenant
  • Andromeda Strain (for Chris)
Medications
  • Chris Allergy
  • Kim Cold Medication (just in case)
  • Advil
  • Immodium
  • Band-Aids/Blister Blockers
  • Neo-sporin
Toiletries
  • Toothpaste
  • Shaving Cream
  • Perfume
  • Deoderant
  • Makeup
  • Suntan lotion
  • Razor
  • Toothbrush
  • Hairbrush
Miscellaneous
  • Clipon Eyeglasses
  • Sunglasses
  • Journal
  • Fountain Pen
  • Regular Pen
----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: I Want to Start to Maintain This Again STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 08/16/2005 05:59:39 AM ----- BODY: To catch you all up, I quit my job in January, the thirty-first to be precise. Three days later, on February 3rd, I re-joined Weight Watchers at Amy's meeting. Since then, I'm down 24.2 pounds, 51.8 pounds from my all time high. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: You Never Have a Camera When You Need One STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 08/16/2005 06:12:36 AM ----- BODY: We went to the NJ State Fair on Sunday, basically in search of Turkey Drumsticks and Kettle Korn. What we saw was this goat, in the Goat Pavillion, pooping. Have you ever seen a goat poop? A baby-birthing size hole opens in it's back and round pebbles fall like gumballs. Probably should have had a camcorder for that instead of a camera. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: It's Not The Distance; It's The Wind STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log CATEGORY: Food/Exercise Log DATE: 08/16/2005 01:57:26 PM ----- BODY: Did 13.25 miles on the bike today with an average speed of 11.5 miles an hour and max speed of 16.5 miles an hour; half totally against the wind - that's a friggin' killer! And hey - why can't people learn? You walk against traffic and bike with traffic - geez! ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: My Baby Left Me STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 08/22/2005 12:57:02 PM ----- BODY: I dropped Becky at the bus this morning for her week of encampment. Okay, I know it's only a week but I still cried. Wish she knew some other kids going; maybe I'd feel better then. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Weigh In STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 08/25/2005 08:01:21 PM ----- BODY: I weighed in today. "A" wasn't leading the meeting b/c she's taking her boys to college but "N" was there instead. She's pretty funny "N". Anyway, lost about four pounds which makes up for the two I gained last week and I'm looking at a 25.8 pound loss since February, not too shabby. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Gourmet Eggs STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 08/26/2005 07:54:16 AM ----- BODY: We saw March of the Penguins last week. It's got me thinking off and on all week about different things. But yesterday, as I was pondering some eggs for breakfast I wondered about the empire penguin eggs. They lay one egg. Well, chickens lay dozens but not all of the "take." We eat those that don't. So do all the empire penguin eggs take? Do some of those poor penguins sit in those freezing cold temps, caring for eggs that have no baby chick growing inside? Can they tell the difference? And if they don't all take, why hasn't some enterprising person run an expedition to gather up those eggs that don't take and sell them on the market for like a gazillion bucks each, like truffles (which by the way does anyone really like truffles or is that an emperor clothes thing but that's another topic). ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Can We All Just Take Our Seats Please STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 08/29/2005 07:14:56 AM ----- BODY: We took Sammi to a Yankee Game on Saturday. Our seats weren't together because two of them came with our season ticket plan, but when we realized Becky wouldn't be home and decided to take Sammi, we bought a third ticket, two rows behind our original two. Anyway, we got to the game, went to the upgrade window and managed to turn our two and one seat way in right field (home run territory) into three seats in Main Box behind home plate (for the nominal price of $90, yikes); still cool though. What I don't get, is we're about five rows back in Main Box (Field Box is in front of that, so maybe twenty five rows behind home plate). When we arrive, a father and young daughter (maybe nine) are sitting in the first row of our section. Eventually, someone arrives and claims the seats that father and daughter have. They get up and move to the second row until someone arrives and boots them out of those seats, then it happens while they're in the third row. Now each time it happens, people stand about because they have to get a staff person, to move the people in their seats and everyone's blocking our view. Finally it ends up with the father and daughter sitting in the sixth row, behind us and I doubt those were their seats either! So tell me, why can't these people just sit in their flippin' seats to start!! Why must they disturb everyone else because they're too cheap to pay for these seats to begin with! What is that father teaching his child about following rules??? Now I'm thinking maybe I should stop smuggling food into movie theatres... ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: When Does The School Year End? STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 09/07/2005 06:40:49 PM ----- BODY: At the end of last year, all the students in my daughter's middle school received a summer math project to do. Now we had summer work before but that was reading, which can be done anywhere at almost anytime (i.e., on the beach, at the pool, on a train into the City, etc). But a math project? No, you're stuck in the house, researching items on the Internet, scratching out dozens of calculations and making pie charts. I figure the school administration thought this would be a good idea, a way to keep math fresh in the kids' minds over the summer. I guess they don't realize how much my kids spend at the snack shack at our pool on a daily basis? Or that they have to calculate the change? Or that they're constantly figuring out how many days they have left of summer vacation. Or the human age of our dog forcing me to recognize her "birthdays" every few weeks. Nope lets give them a math project that will take a few hours to complete that they can cram into the last couple of remaining days of freedom they have. At the end of this project, they courtiously left a space for parental comments. Well, I told them what I thought. I said I found it hypocritical that a school district that spent the last two days of the school year showing my daughter movies, and the week prior to that, taking her to a ball game, bowling and to a park, should send home math work to do over the summer. I promised to take take her to ball games, movies, bowling and parks if they promised to teach my daughter while she's in school. She's afraid they're going to fail her now. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: School Starts Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 09/08/2005 05:25:20 AM ----- BODY: It's the most wonderful time of the year....:) ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: The Wheels On The Bus STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 09/08/2005 07:19:56 AM ----- BODY: How many years do you need to do a job before you get it right? The bus that takes our kids to middle school was over thirty minutes late today. It's not as if the transportation department didn't know this day was coming over ten weeks ago. It's not as if they haven't run this same route for at least a couple of years. It's not as if they haven't been running buses to this school for over thirty years. So what does it take to get an on time bus on the first day of school? ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Good Workout Today STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 09/15/2005 08:05:11 AM ----- BODY: I did 40 minutes on manual on the lifecycle at level 4 but I put it on Race for a while and rode between 18 and 20 mph. Not bad considering it's been a few weeks since I've moved my fat ass in any way shape or form. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: Lie Down and Suck It In STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: The Journey CATEGORY: The Journey DATE: 09/16/2005 08:29:23 AM ----- BODY: My size 16 LL Bean jeans arrived this morning. They're tight but not unbuttonable and I'm not going larger. With some effort, they should be comfortable by Thanksgiving and big by the spring. ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- -------- AUTHOR: Kim TITLE: The Trials and Tribulations of a Sebring Owner STATUS: Publish ALLOW COMMENTS: 1 CONVERT BREAKS: __default__ ALLOW PINGS: 0 PRIMARY CATEGORY: Daily Grind CATEGORY: Daily Grind DATE: 08/03/2006 12:12:47 PM ----- BODY: Feel free to skip over this b/c it's going to be long and it's detailed and if you smell something, that's the steam seeping from my ears! On Monday May 8, as I'm driving my daughters to their after school activities, my check engine light comes on. Within a few seconds, I notice my car is not shifting gears. S*** I exclaim. After getting one to her necessary location, canceling the other's appointment, I speak to my mechanic, the beloved Pete. Pete says, "Sure, Kim, bring it on in." I call my friend Lisa, who meets me at the mechanic, where I leave my car, and she takes me home. The next day Pete calls. "You need a new Transmission Control module." We're going to try to get it for you but we're not sure, if we can program it or if the dealer needs to do that. It should be about $350." Grateful that I don't need a new transmission, on a four-year-old car with only 42,000 miles on it, I thank him. Unfortunately, Pete calls back later to tell me that only the dealer can program the module, so I need to bring it there. Gulp. He says, “Don’t worry it shouldn’t be more than $400 or $450.” When I pick up the car from Pete, he won’t take any money for diagnostic work. I call the dealer, Dayton Chrysler, in Dayton New Jersey, who cannot give me an appointment until Friday. "Well," I say, "I can’t use the car anyway, and since I have a ride today, can I bring it over now?” "Sure," he responds, "And maybe we’ll get to it on Thursday." When I drop it off on Tuesday, I tell them it needs a new transmission control module; it’s not shifting out of first. On Friday afternoon, I get a call, “Kim, you need a new transmission control module.” “Really? How’dya know?” I think. I do not say. I thank him and ask when it will be ready. Monday. Monday, I pick up my car, and $560 later I leave. On May 22, my check engine light comes on again. Since I believe it’s related to the initial problem, I mean what are the odds, of this happening twice in two weeks, and since that work has a 12-month, 12K miles warranty. I bring it to the dealer’s service center again (remember that's Dayton Chrysler). On May 23, they call to tell me some hose was bad totally unrelated to the previous week’s repair. Yeah, right. Only problem, I’m not home to receive the call. Chris is and he tells them to go ahead and fix it without asking how much. He thinks all mechanics charge like Pete. Me, I would have said, leave it alone, I’m taking it to my mechanic. So, on May 24, after $185 repair, I pick up my car. $5 for the hose, $180 for tax and labor. Who knew you could charge tax on labor? On June 21, my oil light comes on. I mistakenly think it’s a low oil light, and since I’m 200 miles shy of my 3000-mile oil change, I bring it to Pete. Pete gives me an oil change, $30. Later that day, the light comes on again. Hmm…I take out my book. Turns out it’s not the oil change light but the oil pressure light. I call Pete on Thursday, June 22nd. He tells me to bring it in first thing on Friday morning. I do. Kim, he tells me, I going to replace the oil pressure switch and hope that takes care of it. I ask him to replace three of my tires too while he’s at it and he does. I get the car back later that day. On Saturday, the light goes on again, and I bring it back to Pete. Pete was afraid that might happen. He delves deeper, and calls me later in the day to say, “You need a new oil pump and that’s a $1200 to a $1500 dollar job. As much as I’d love to take your money, I’m not going to. There’s no way a car with only 42,000 miles should need a new oil pump. Call Chrysler and demand they pay for this.” On Monday, I call Chrysler in Detroit. They agree that my car shouldn’t need a new oil pump but before they can agree to assist, they need me to take it to their service center for diagnosis. The woman is very nice on the phone and gives me her private extension to call her back when I get the diagnosis. I call our Chrysler dealer first thing Monday morning but they cannot see me until Thursday. I ask if I can bring the car over now, since once again, I have a ride and I can’t use the car anyway; they agree. On Friday, June 30, they call me to tell me that I need a new Oil Pressure Switch and it will cost $180. When I tell them I put a new oil pressure switch on just last week (which I told them also when I had dropped off the car) and my mechanic only charged me $30 ($18 for the part) They reply, “We’ll call you right back.” Ninety minutes later, they call back, insisting it’s the oil pressure switch and not the oil pump. They agree though I should bring it back to Pete, and they agree not to charge me the diagnostic fee. At this point, my car has not worked for 10 days. I explain to him, fine, but if my mechanic puts a new switch on the car, and the light comes on again, I don’t want to have to wait another four to five days for an appointment. Jerry, at Chrysler, agrees to see me immediately if that should happen. Back to Pete, who has left on vacation to visit his family. So I speak to Dino. Dino insists it’s not the switch but the pump but once I explain to him that Chrysler won’t assist me if I don’t have their mechanic diagnose it, and he won’t diagnose it without a new switch, Dino agrees to install a new switch. Dino won’t charge me at all for the new switch. Now we’re into the holiday weekend. My car is ready on Saturday, but I am not home. So on Wednesday morning, when we return, I pick up my car. I am not three miles from my mechanic, when the oil pressure light comes on again. I go home, and I call Jerry at the Chrysler Service department. Jerry says, okay; bring the car in on Monday. Jerry, I explain, Monday is not immediately. You promised you would look at it immediately. Okay, he responds, Friday. Bring it in on Friday. Jerry, I further explain, Friday is not immediately either. When would you like to bring it in, he queries. I could be there in ten minutes, I reply. Fine, bring it over he says. So on Wednesday, July 5, (14 days after the light initially went on), I bring my car back to the Chrysler dealership. On Thursday, July 6 in the afternoon, Jerry calls me and tells me, “Kim, you need a new oil pump.” “You think, Jerry?” I think but do not say. I call the nice woman at Chrysler Detroit on her private extension to tell her I have a diagnosis, only she’s not there, so I leave a message. On Friday morning, I call her again, and leave a message. She does not call back. Following Jerry’s advice, I call the general number on Friday afternoon b/c maybe the nice woman is away on vacation, or maybe she just doesn’t want to return my phone call. Don’t ask me to go into the details of how long it takes to speak to someone who can help you at Chrysler Detroit, a very, very long time. Oh heck, let’s go into the details. First you call them and after navigating through their menus (four or five levels deep), you speak to someone, who listens to the entire story. Then says, let me transfer you to someone who can help you. This second person must put you on hold though, while they “review your file,” then they call the dealership, then they return to tell you what they can/cannot do. In this first case, the woman I spoke to (the second one for that call), explained that they could not assist me without a full diagnosis b/c according to Don, at the dealership, while they knew I needed an oil pump, they did not know what else might be wrong with the car. “What does that mean?” I ask. They need to take the engine apart, to get to the oil pump and examine all the areas on the car that could have been affected to make sure nothing else is damaged. Now, remember, I’m in the hole to the dealership for a diagnosis fee which runs about $85 an hour, which I don’t pay if they fix it. If I decide I don’t want them fixing it (i.e., there’s no way I’m paying their prices if Chrysler Detroit isn’t assisting me with these repairs, I’m bringing it back to Pete), I still owe them all that money. As I’m explaining to her that 1) they could have told me this before the entire process started, or 2) they’re holding my car hostage now b/c you see once they take that engine apart, and diagnose it, they’re not putting it back together again for me to take to another mechanic to fix – so I have to use their mechanic and their incredibly high prices. She just repeats over and over, “You need to have a complete diagnosis before we will consider assisting.” Moreover, while I’m explaining this to her, our phone line goes dead because our alarm company is here testing our house alarm and disconnected the main line to the house for a test. Yes, that was me you heard scream on the afternoon of July the 7th. When I call back, navigate the menus, speak to the first representative, who spends ten minutes familiarizing himself with my file before transferring me to the second representative, who spends another ten minutes, doing the same, the second representative does not feel as belligerent as the first. He gets Don, from the dealership on the phone in a three-way, and explains to me that the complete diagnosis is for my benefit. This way, if the faulty oil pump caused other damage to the car, they will find it, and Chrysler can assist with the entire repair, rather than me being back in this boat, in another month or two with a different problem. Okay – though it still commits me to using the dealer for this repair, I agree to the complete diagnosis process and tell Don to go ahead and take my engine apart. The Chrysler Detroit rep insists they will make it financially beneficial to repair the car, if they decide to assist (i.e., I won’t be hugely in the hole). On Tuesday, July 11 (20 days after the light first came on, 16 days after I first brought it to the dealership), Jerry calls me to tell me the engine looks fine. He’s going to see if they have the pump on hand, if not they’ll order it and should receive it on Wednesday or Thursday. The total cost will be about $650. I’m not asking why his estimate is half of Pete’s but I am a bit suspicious, not of Pete, but of the dealership. Yet, I cannot put my finger on it. I call Chrysler Detroit., again, once I’m 20+ minutes into the phone call, I speak to a nice gentleman, who constantly apologizes while he puts me on hold, to review my file and then to call the dealership. He returns and says, “Ma’am, the dealership has overruled us on this one and is offering to pay for labor if you pay for the part.” Aha, I think, that number they gave me was for the part, and in my mind, totally unacceptable. I don’t say that though, instead I play dumb and ask, “Do you know if that $650 was for parts and labor or when they gave me that number had they already deducted labor from the estimate?” He does not know but suggests I call the dealer to find out. I stay calm and explain, that I’d rather he did it, because I still want assistance if I’m out the $650 and I don’t want to have to wait on hold for another 20 minutes to get to someone that can help me. He understands and apologizes, yet again, for not asking the question himself. He tries the dealership but cannot find anyone who knows the answer as Don and Jerry have both gone out for lunch. In the end, I call the dealership and leave a message for Don or Jerry to call me. Later that afternoon, Jerry calls me and tells me my share will be $350. I can stomach that and am satisfied. He tells me he will try to have the car for me on Thursday, but definitely by the end of the week. On Friday afternoon, I call asking about my car and they tell me, “The technician cut his hand while working on your car and needed to get stitches. It won’t be ready until Monday.” I verify he is okay and hang up but then things gnaw at me. I won’t even tell you the nightmares I had that night regarding my car (well, okay – I dreamed I saw it driving on the road with a license plate that said, “Save Me”). On Saturday, because I’d been tossing and turning all night, because it had been 19 days since I first brought the car to them, and because my friend’s boyfriend, a mechanic, said they probably damaged your car and it was in a body shop and not even on the lot, I drove over to the dealership to see the car and make sure they were working on it. On Monday July 17, 21 days after first bringing my car to the dealership (for the third repair in five weeks), I got my car back. Yesterday, August 2, 16 days after receiving my car, the check engine light came on again. Of course, I called them and of course, they told me to bring it in next week. I told them that was unacceptable and they agreed I could bring it in this morning, first thing. At 10:30, just after I went into the garage to bundle our recyclables and noticed a 12 inch oil puddle on my floor, they called to tell me the check engine light was not coming on, and there was no code stuck in the computer so they couldn’t tell what was wrong with it. I explained that I had just found an oil puddle in my garage, so I was sure something was wrong with it and I’m now sure it has something to do with the repair they were supposed to have made over two weeks ago. I’m still waiting to hear back from them. Coolness (2).jpg ----- EXTENDED BODY: ----- EXCERPT: ----- KEYWORDS: ----- --------