STYmied

I haven't quite managed to start working yet this morning, so I figured I'd go ahead and check in with you, friends.

I'm so out of it, as usual for a Monday morning.  It doesn't help that I'm achy from some Saturday activity (I'll get to that in a bit) (don't be perverted) and my right eye hurts and has a red swollen part on the lower lid.  Is this a sty?  I'm going to look it up now...  EW.  Ok, it may be a sty but it does not look like a pimple or a boil...rather there is a hole in the lower, inner eyelid, a tiny one, and it hurts.  So there. 

Weekends!  Weeks?  How long has it been since I've talked to you?  Things at work are clearing up significantly, since we hired a receptionist who started last week.  She's young but sweet and sharp and I really like her, plus she's so eager to please that she's doing a great job, as opposed to our last, goth-chick burnout person who was rather slow and always wore black.  It's a lovely change of pace.  This means my feeling of drowning at work has been relieved and I'm fairly organized and have a neat to-do list on my desk -- in other words, I'm not stressed about work at the moment.  Amazing.

So last week I walked home three times (Monday, Wednesday and Thursday), which felt good and tiring and made me feel a little more in control of this body.  It's four miles home from our new office, so it's a good little hike.  (Ha!)  Tuesday night I saw Source Code with Hike, which was really interesting and suspenseful, and we had Thai beforehand.  I had Veggies and Chicken with Peanut Sauce, which was delicious but probably not great for me with the peanut fat.  Oh well, could be worse.  Then Friday night we went to Red Lobster for dinner with his brother, and shhh, his brother saw a baby roach on the wall next to me and squashed it with a coaster.  We told the waiter, who told the manager, who promptly moved us to a different table, comped all of our meals, and gave us free dessert.  It was totally worth it, and since we moved, I didn't have the creepy-crawly-roaches crawling up my legs feeling!  I was very impressed with their efforts to not have us Yelp about the incident.  OH and I ordered the Broiled Seafood Platter, which was almost the healthiest option, and very delicious.  I did have a few Cheddar Bay Biscuits, however, and once she offered a free dessert, the three of us split this chocolate chip lava cookie with ice cream (ZOMG), but I tried and behaved rather well.  After dinner, his brother's wife joined us and we all saw Fast Five at the IMAX theater.  SO FUN.  It was just really entertaining and I'm so into Vin Diesel, I really can't help it.  I loved it whenever he was on screen -- now if only he'd had a love scene like that one on the hood of a car in the first movie with Michelle Rodriguez.  Swoon.

Saturday I woke up with a headache, probably from allergies and sleeping with the window open, so we relaxed then Hike left for the gym and I finished reading my book club book, finished the Series Finale of the Tudors on DVD, and napped briefly until I felt better.  Then, as it was so nice out, I was inspired to do some weeding in the garden, and moving the big rocks and planting a few things.  It felt nice to be out there, but man, I forgot how much the back of my legs hurt afterwards!  I'm still so sore and stiff, and I think this is what it'll be like when I'm elderly.  I should have stretched but I wasn't even thinking!  In the early evening, Hike helped me take some stuff to the Salvation Army in Astoria, and then I got behind the wheel so we could do a test drive to JFK.  I am going to pick him up next Monday night when he lands from Vegas, and I'm also going to have use of his car while he's gone (whoo), but as I hadn't driven in NYC since I first moved here, it seemed like a trial run wasn't a bad idea.  It went really well ("you exceeded my lofty expectations," said he), even when he remembered I had to exit across three lanes at the last minute.  And it felt so nice to drive again, except in the narrow part of the Grand Central right around Astoria.  It's a little scary there.

Saturday night we met up with Hike's friend and his gf, and the four of us went for dinner in Long Island City at Masso.  I drank these basil lime gimlets that were AMAZING, and I ordered salmon with a balsamic reduction and asparagus, though you can bet I wanted chicken parm or lasagna -- but it was good and filling and I felt very proud of my decision!  Then the four of us went back to my apartment to play Scene It: 80s Edition, and Hike and I SMOKED them, and then it was to bed. 

My firm had given me the Yankees tickets for Sunday afternoon, and it was a gorgeous warm, sunny day here.  We took another couple, friends of mine in Astoria, and we had a nice relaxing afternoon, even though none of us were really Yankees fans (and Hike wore his Mets hat).  I got a little sunburned, which was nice, and we left after the seventh inning to beat the traffic -- and were home in about 20 minutes, since it's so fast to drive from Astoria.  Then some relaxing time at home with Hike while he watched the Celtics/Heat game and I sort of dozed, then we went grocery shopping and I made us turkey sandwiches for supper, and then he left and I settled in for bed and watched The Guardian before sleep.  It was a little cliche but I really enjoyed it!  And I also do love Costner, plus I have a crush on Ashton that never went away, so you know, win all around. 

And that was my lovely, rather full weekend!  Now if I could only buckle down at work and stop thinking about how irritating this eye problem is...grr.  Tonight I'm going to get my nails did, and tomorrow night is book club and then dinner with Schmillie and Schmate, and then Hike will come over afterwards, then we're going to see his mom for an early Mother's Day celebration on Wednesday or Thursday, then he leaves for Vegas on Friday and I have scheduled a FACIAL [Oprah voice].  Saturday I have fun Astoria brunch plans with some ladeez, and then it's my much-anticipated Trader Joe's run, and that's about the extent of my plans.  I may try for a Target trip while I have the car, too, but I'm going to run out of room to store all of my goodies in my apartment!  He gets back on Monday night, so it'll be strange to sleep alone all weekend, but I think it'll be nice to have a little distance so we can remember how much we appreciate each other.  A little absence to make the heart grow fonder, you know?  As long as his absence doesn't involve any strip clubs, but he's given his word and is apparently not interested in them, anyway.

So that's what's up, folks.  I'm doing a little better with the weight control, I'm doing a little worse with the smoking, and I'm trying to relax more and worry less.  The fabric of my life, right?

Swimsuit Season and What I Ate

Well, I bought a new swimsuit at lunchtime today.  Liberty of London is doing a big line with Target (coming Sunday) and they had a preview pop-up store near Bryant Park just from Wed-Sat of this week, so a co-worker and I checked it out.  There are a ton of sweet, flowery dresses, but of course of the cut/style that would make short, chubby me look like I was in a tent or a moo-moo.  Still, I found a soft, pretty tankini that's a dark teal with white poppy silhouette-print, and I tried the top on over my shirt (as the fitting room lines were taking forever), and took my chances with the bottoms.  If it really doesn't fit, I can return it to a Target store, but man, it got me into such a summery mood!  I wish I could show you a picture, but it's not online yet.  (So exclusive!)

That was exciting, and then the sun came out while we were in the store, so I'm planning on hoofing it home across the bridge again today.  It should be a calming and restorative walk...and it really tires me out.  Last time I was ready for bed at about 7:30 pm!  (Don't worry, I made myself wait till 10:30.)

My drinks date last night was rather entertaining, though there was lots of talk of engagements and weddings, as the other girl my age had just gotten fianced.  It's fun to talk about, though I don't like fielding questions about where my ring is -- maybe I'm too sensitive.  I just think man, I'd like to know that, too, but I also great freaked out about it, and I have to pretend I don't care that much, and it makes me feel awkward.   The wine and food were quite delicious, though!  I had one rice ball, a piece of pecorino, and a fried artichoke (we shared appetizers) and then a yummy beet salad with greens, orange sections, Parmesan, and pistachios.  And about 2 glasses of wine.  So I behaved decently, I think!  Sometimes I felt like I'd lost any social graces I once had, as the conversation was really all over the place, but I think that's just how that group of hens is.  I hope. 

Ugh, this morning I'd made myself coffee (in the coffee maker I'd prepped last night) and then when I went to finish off one quart of milk, pouring it into the cup, a bunch of chunks came out and into my coffee.  Disgusting.  I had to start the whole process over again with my new milk, but luckily I didn't lose too much time in my cramped morning routine.  (Seriously, I'm up and out the door in less than 30 minutes.)

Food.
B - Honey Bunches, coffee, milk - 4
L - Everroast chicken (yum) sandwich with muenster, apple - 5
D - sassy salsa pumpkin soup, reduced fat sc, salad - 7
S - yogurt, granny bar, pudding - 4
Total - 20
Activity - 3.6 mile walk, about 4 pts

So Much Meat and What I Ate

Hello, world!  Let's catch up.

I was missing on Friday because I had a wonderful and unexpected snow day!  Well, maybe it was a little expected, but I still had to wake up at my normal time and check my work e-mail and emphasize how deep the snow was in my 'hood.  Deep and unshoveled.  And since no one else, especially no one important (i.e. the firm partners) were making it in from their mansions in the suburbs, I was told to stay home unless "I hear otherwise."  I figured they wouldn't be so cruel as to call me after 3 pm, so after going back to sleep for awhile after a good breakfast and coffee, Mex and I roused ourselves in the early afternoon, cleaned up, and trekked out to Broadway Station for some good lunch and to begin the Olympic hockey watching/day drinking.  It was so fun to stomp through the snow for a few blocks, then cozy up with a lunch special and cheap(ish) pitchers of Miller Lite.  Schmauren even stopped by for a bit, and we just maxed and relaxed.  After the game (which was a US blowout, though it was boring after the first few minutes when they scored all of their goals), Mex and I went to our favorite neighborhood dive bar to play pool into the evening, then catch the Canadian game on at 9:30.  It was a long, fun, beery time, and we were still home by 1 am. 

Saturday was a lovely brunch at Fatty's Cafe on Ditmars with Schmauren, where I ordered the Fatty, of course, which was an upscale Egg McMuffin with salad, yum.  We then hit up a Famous Brands discount clothing store for some great deals, then off to Target in Queens, where I bought the entire store.  I was especially excited to stock up on all my healthier snack tricks that I can't buy locally, like SmartPop Kettle Corn, light string cheese, cheap Quaker Low Fat Chewy granola bars, Baked Tostitos, generic Honey Bunches of Oats, etc.  (I'm off the FiberOne--at least, I will be once my final box is gone.  Too many unpleasant side effects, ahem.)  I even bought Market Pantry low-fat ice cream sandwiches for a treat!  And then high-fat Cadbury Mini Eggs, the best candy in the world, but I haven't even opened the bag yet.  I also purchased a sports bra, a dress, household items, fun toiletries, and who knows what else.  Anyway, after exhausting myself at Target, it was home for a nap, then Mex came over and we ordered Indian food and watched Extract, which was sadly, more boring than bro-funny, as I was hoping.  Then more Olympics and a reasonable bedtime.

Sunday we slept in, made some breakfast, then hung around watching the final hockey game, which was very intense!  Sadly the US lost in the sudden-death OT, but it was a fun game, and I mean, it's OK if Canada wins gold in hockey.  I mean, it's like all they have as a country, right?  After that, the roommate and I headed downstairs to the apartment below ours, where our new neighbor, let's call him Birdie, was making us dinner.  He's going to be using our wireless internet for awhile until his is set up (in April, after he returns from some traveling), so to thank us, he cooked.  And he's the head sous chef at the restaurant at St. Bart's on Madison, so I had high expectations -- and boy, were they met.  We started with mussels in this delicious garlic and tomato broth, served with homemade olive bread and all these little tapas plates, like homemade olives and pickles and something like tabbouleh salad and another salad with walnuts, pomegranate seeds, and green things (?), as well as a green salad with salted cod and white sardines and the Israeli version of tapanade, and then moved on to Beef Bourginogn with potato gratin...good lord.  Some of the food he'd made fresh for us and some was brought home from the restaurant, and it was all amazing.  Dessert was this apple crumble with fresh spiced, whipped cream on the side, and we had red wine.  And now he's insisting that I (surely he was making eye contact with just me, yes?) stop by whenever I want, as he's always cooking something or has leftovers.  He offered to pack me my lunches for work.  He is beautiful.  I may be in trouble -- of the sexy international-man-of-mystery neighbor type and of the caloric type.

Annnnyway, so that was the weekend, and then last night after work I went with my girlfriends, aka "The Munchers," to a book party for a friend (we each only had one drink; it was a Monday, after all,) and then we'd had our hearts set on this new meatball restaurant on the Lower East Side, The Meatball Shop.  All night, all we'd talked about were balls.  Sadly, that's all anyone can talk about lately, so when we arrived at 9:00 pm, there was a 1 1/2 hour wait...outside.  We had to cut our losses and head around the corner for consolation pizza and salad, which was delicious (we had one pizza with cherry tomatoes, spinach, garlic, etc., and the other had potatoes, red onions, pork sausage, etc.), and also very filling.  Needless to say, lots of big meals lately, and this week requires some buckling down.  At least until Thursday, when I have dinner plans at an old-school Italian restaurant in Brooklyn.  Mama mia.

So tonight is finally going to be a quiet one, and assuming I don't work overtime (which is actually a possibility today), I'm going to hit the gym, then eat dinner and catch up on DVR before the newest Lost episode, squee.  Tomorrow I'll plan on gymming it again before the excess of the weekend comes around...and I think I will be taking it a bit easier food-wise this weekend. 

Food today, which is giving me rage because I can't cut & paste now.  Eff you, Google.
B - coffee, Special K, skim - 4
L - Sausalito turkey on sandwich thin with MWLight, cheese L, T; apple - 5
D - Butternut Squash Baked Penne, salad with tomatoes, cukes, feta, homemade vinaigrette - 8
S - yogurt, light string cheese - 2
Total - 19 plus some, I'm sure
Activity - biking

I think I'm going to have to switch to Light Laughing Cow on my sandwiches if I want any cheese, or else find some better deals on fat free/low fat cheese options.  I'm adding quite a few points there and probably not even counting them all.

So today, finally, I will go without red or pink meat (aka pork)!  It's a cleanse.  A 24-hour cleanse.

What I Ate: Tuesday, December 29

I should've mentioned that I'm following the Weight Watchers points plan, though not attending meetings. I really hate moral support, you know?

So I'm allowed 20 points per day (at my weight level) plus 35 flex points per week, to be distributed however I'd like. I can "earn" more points per day with exercise, too. I will weigh myself weekly and report in, and I'll lay out each day's food plan specifically. I'll also confess any cheating.

Current weight: 150 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds (or less...we'll see)
Other goals: wear a bikini again this summer; meet new, emotionally available man

Today's food plan:
Breakfast -- coffee, Honey Bunches of Oats, skim milk (4)
Lunch -- turkey and swiss sandwich on Sandwich Thins bread, with lettuce, tomato, fat free mayo and mustard; tangerine (5)
Dinner -- brown rice with vegetable tomato sauce and cubed chicken (7); romaine salad with tomatoes, cucumbers, feta, homemade vinaigrette (2)
Snack -- low fat yogurt (2)
TOTAL = 20 points

Exercise:
Was going to bike at the gym but a good friend who I haven't seen in a few weeks offered to drive us to Target. I can't pass that up.

Food tip:
I made a yummy, low-point dinner last night and had enough leftovers to freeze for 9 more meals. Here's what I did: Chopped 4 carrots, 1 smallish eggplant, and 1 large onion. Sauteed the onion in olive oil until soft (with salt & pepper), added carrots (and a dash of dried oregano), waited another 5 minutes and added eggplant, then 2 large cans of Hunt's diced Basil, Thyme and Oregano tomatoes. I let the whole thing simmer for about 30 minutes until all veggies were cooked. Separately, I browned some cubed chicken breast in a bit of olive oil (and salt, pep, oregano), then added the cooked pieces into the sauce in the last 5 minutes to heat through again. I cooked my brown rice in a mixture of fat free chicken broth and water, and voila, a very healthy and cheap dinner that I'll be eating for 2 weeks! I love being frugal and eating well.

More later, lovelies!