Food Network inspires me to eat

You know it's time to diet when you push away from the table and the table moves.  ~Quoted in The Cockle Bur

I am watching an episode of The Next Food Network Star.  While watching this episode I am thinking two things.  First,  I really need to plan another trip to New York City which needs to include a visit to Chelsea Market where I can eat and eat and eat.  And second, I am hungry. I always get hungry watching any Food Network shows. 

Chelsea Market, located in the Meatpacking District of Manhattan, is home to Food Network.  On my first visit to New York City a few years ago, I only passed by the Chelsea Market in the middle of the night.  When I return to the Big Apple I am adding the urban food concourse to my places to visit.  And if I am going to eat my way through New York City, I better find a place to workout while I am there. 

For now, I will take care of my hunger. I'll be having a big bowl of ice cream even though the boys have ate all of the chocolate syrup. 

Enthusiasm needed

There is a necessity for a regulating discipline of exercise that, whilst evoking the human energies, will not suffer them to be wasted.  ~Thomas de Quincey

I'm ready for a change in this weather. The heat has me extremely wiped out, day in and day out.  Hoping cooler weather is on the way and with it comes more energy and more enthusiasm to exercise everyday. 

'Small' dessert feeds the family

"We don't have a diet menu, but for $3.99 we can let you lick the stains off a tablecloth." ~ Randy Glasbergen

After taking in the Captain America movie, my family and I headed to Long Horn Steakhouse.  Some of us were hungry and some of us had ate too much popcorn at the movies.  

I didn't find anything remotely diet friendly on the menu. As if it really mattered since I had already had an entire nine inch pepperoni pizza and a salad at lunch.  I did consider having a salad but opted for the grilled chicken breast sandwich with the seasoned French fries.  

While at the restaurant the youngest decided he just wanted dessert because he really wasn't hungry. He orders this chocolate delicacy that is huge enough to be an entree.  Logan was in heaven. 

He proudly dug into the dessert.  After making a small dent in the dessert, Logan says, "Hey, people you need to dig in because I can't finish this on my own." 

Before we left, we all had our fair share of Logan's dessert.  It wasn't a diet item from the menu but it sure beats a salad or worse yet... Licking stains from a tablecloth!"

Homemade pizza with the neighbors

"I'm trying to be more active. Which one burns more calories - twittering, blogging or googling?" ~ Randy Glasbergen

I hope this evening's blogging, twittering and facebooking all lead to some serious calorie burning.  I'm going to need it.
 
I was thinking of making something like grilled chicken and salad.   Instead I come home to a surprise dinner prepared by my two oldest boys.   They found a recipe for homemade pizza dough and talked the girls across the street to help them make pizza for tonight's dinner.   Now, we have dinner plans with the neighbors across the street.   Am I disappointed?  Not in the least!  It's not exactly my diet but neither were the three chocolate chip cookies I had when I got home from work.
 
I'm looking forward to the homemade pizza!

Experiencing vast emptiness

"I only lost one pound before I quit my diet. But if I can do that 50 times, I can lose 50 pounds." ~ Randy Glasbergen

It was a long day out on the road but one that will remain etched in my mind for a long time. 

I had the opportunity to visit with an alumnus of Linn State Technical College who lives in Joplin, Missouri.  During the visit the alum shared his experience with the tornado that destroyed his home in May.  His story of survival still brings tears to my eyes.  

After having lunch, we went for a drive through town.  After zipping through street after street of normalcy in the downtown area, we came upon a vast vacant area of emptiness. It takes your breath away. It brings chills down your spine. It brings tears to your eyes. 

Pictures, video coverage and words do not explain the miles and miles of destruction.  I am amazed that the alum and his wife are alive to speak of this horrific experience. 

I started the day feeling a little sorry for myself. I stepped on the blasted scale and I wasn't at all thrilled with the number on the scale.  As you can imagine, that number on the scale really not all that important right now. 

Over indulging at the Chinese buffet

"Great eaters and great sleepers are incapable of anything else that is great." ~ Henry IV of France

I might have to agree with Henry IV of France.  Last night, I over did it at the Dragon Kitchen and I was on the sofa sleeping by 8:00 p.m.  
 
Why is it when you go to a Chinese restaurant with a buffet, you can't just order off the menu?  Last night, we weren't even given the option to order off the menu.  The waitress asked us for our drink orders and politely told us to help ourselves to the buffet.   I paused for a only a moment and then got up from my chair, heading directly to the buffet.
 
Why is it that when you go to a Chinese restaurant with a buffet, you can't eat just one plate of food?  I started out with good intentions.   I placed a small spoonful of rice on my plate, instead of a heaping mound of rice on my plate.   I opted for the Broccoli and Beef because it at least included green vegetables.   I had an egg role and then went to the table to eat my dinner.   Of course, I couldn't stop there.  I cleaned the plate and quickly went back to try the Sesame Chicken with another small spoonful of rice.   Insane.   It's simply insane.
 
By the time I got home, I was wiped out.  I went directly to the sofa to lay down.   I turned on the television and within a couple of minutes I was struggling to keep my eyes open.  I finally gave up and drifted off.  
 
I think I've been recovering from that one meal all day long.  I'm been wiped out all day long.  No pep, no energy, nothing.   It might be the weather.  It might be stress.   But I think I will blame it on the Chinese food.

Day one?

"I am a light eater. As soon as it's light, I start to eat." ~ Author Unknown

Have you ever signed up for one of those online weight loss programs?  You sign up and immediately you receive these emails with the instructions on how to complete the program.  Then Monday, they check on you to see how you did on day one. 

Day One.   Say what?  I was suppose to start today?!   I thought I got to pick the Monday to start the program.  I haven't even finished reading all the materials and I just ate two plates of Chinese and I might have ate cookie dough straight from the container.  

Seriously, who wants to start a diet on a Monday?!  Not me.  

What Sunday was made for

"Skinny people tick me off! Especially when they say things like, "You know sometimes I forget to eat." Now I've forgotten my address, my mother's maiden name, and my car keys, but I have never forgotten to eat. You have to be a special kind of stupid to forget to eat."  ~ Siouxsie Q

Today was all about rest.  It was the perfect Sunday.  I slept in, if you consider sleeping until 6:00 a.m. sleeping in late.   I read the Sunday newspaper and finished a good book. I watched some television and ordered pizza for dinner.  

Tomorrow is Monday. Need I say more! I hope my body has recovered from the intense hike I did over the weekend.

Hiking the Ozark Mountains

Sunrise at the top of a Branson hill.

"No matter how far you may get off track in your life, with determination, hope and a little sweat, nothing will stand in your way from your dreams." ~ Bob Harper

This morning I had this brilliant idea to beat the heat, get up early and go for a hike.  With the multitude of well paved sidewalks and trails to hike the Ozark Mountains in Branson, Missouri, I was fairly confident, the hiking wouldn't be all that bad.

The first hurdle was motivating myself to go for the four mile hike.  I was up before the sun even thought about rising.  Being dark, I thought it might be best to hang out at the local coffee shop, a.k.a. McDonalds before taking on the hills of Branson.   So with plenty of caffeine in my system, I was wide awake and ready to start climbing.  

As I was getting ready to hit the pavement, I sent a quick text to a friend battling breast cancer a second time and having to endure the agony of weekly chemotherapy treatments.  My text read, "I'm up and walking the hills of Branson this morning.  Offering up this workout for you.  Don't expect huge miracles but maybe my huffing, puffing and sweating will inspire the good Lord to pour out his kindness on you today.  Lots of love and blessing coming your way."   I hit send and away I went.   I also jogged a short portion of the distance, the downhill portions, for a little man and his team playing basketball in the Missouri Show-Me Games, in hopes he and his team would bring home the gold this weekend.

Killer hill!

I was doing well until I experienced the steepest hill I have ever had to climb in my life.  "Oh my goodness," I thought to myself.  "What the hell was I thinking.  I am never going to make it to the top of this hill.   And worse yet, how on earth will I make it back to my car which was over on another hill some two miles away."   I feared that I was in over my head. 

Finally, I pulled it together.  If my friend can put up with weekly chemotherapy, surely I can make it up this awful hill.  I gave it everything I had.  When I reached the top of the hill I wanted to fall to the ground.   Instead I took a deep breath and turned around facing in the direction I had started my hike.   In the sky, was this a huge mass of clouds hiding the sun and the sun was doing everything it could to be seen.   Beams of sun rays were bursting from every single angle.   It definitely put a smile on my face and some joy in my heart.  

Walking the two miles back to the car wasn't as difficult as I had anticipated after seeing that beautiful sun rise.   It was a little daunting to be passed up by a 70 year old man out for his morning walk, but I did my best to keep pace with him.   I was also a little surprised I had only hiked four miles, because it did feel a little like eight miles.   Again, I take into consideration the offering I made and the sunrise I saw.  It was an awesome way to start the day.

Another anniversary celebrated in the company of roadside assistance

"A healthy body is the guest chamber of the soul." ~ Francis Bacon

I am so grateful I got in my workout this morning because after an hour or more sitting along the interstate waiting for a tow truck to pick up our van and another three or more hours waiting in the dealership to have them repair our vehicle, I am exhausted!

Today's incident reminds me of another road trip gone bad that happened sixteen years ago on this same day.  My wife and I were married on this same day sixteen years ago. We hired a limo to take us from the wedding to our hotel in Saint Louis. Unfortunately, an hour into the trip, the limo had a flat tire.  Sixteen years ago a limo wasn't equipped with On-Star, the driver and the passengers didn't have cell phones and apparently you had to pay extra for a car jack and a half way intelligent driver.  

On that particular night the driver waved down a local farmer who had pity on the poor sap. He too came without a car jack but had the decency to take the half witted driver to the closest gas station to call for a wrecker.  Thus the newly weds were left stranded along the side of the road in the back of a limo.  

An hour later the driver returned with help, the tire was fixed and the newlyweds were back on their way to the hotel.  We arrived at two in the morning. The chances our room was still available was unlikely. When we arrived, the hotel clerk graciously checked us in and quickly had us escorted to a hotel suite, a room we had obviously not booked for the evening.  In this case, it paid to be late. 

Although we arrived late in Branson this afternoon, I'm grateful we arrived alive.  No upgrades at the hotel, but some superior service from the fine people at the Thompson Auto Dealership in Springfield, Missouri who took really good care of us while we waited for the axel on the van to be repaired. 

Despite the delay, our plans were quickly back on track. We enjoyed a an evening at the Branson Landing and a swim in the hotel pool.   Our sixteenth anniversary was officially celebrated and we created a "special" memory we will soon not forget. 

Giving in to my ice cream cravings

Ice cream cravings are not to be taken lightly.  ~Betsy Cañas Garmon

I've had an ice cream craving and an ice cream head ache every night this week.  I've craved ice cream every night and I have given into it every single night.  It is a good thing I got out of bed every morning this week to exercise.  

Fruit only angers my need for chocolate

Fruit only angers my need for chocolate.  ~Jason Love

The one piece of fruit I did eat today most definitely infuriated me because by the end of the day I devoured a spoonful or two of cookie dough, three or four chocolate chip cookies and drank a large glass of chocolate milk.   It's obviously true that fruit does anger my need for chocolate!

Good health begins with running, ends with ice cream

To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." ~ Buddha

I started the day off with good intentions.

I wanted to do about 40 minutes of cardio.  I didn't do 40 but I did do 20 minutes. 

I wanted to stay within my calorie limit.  I was successful all day until tonight when I had a bowl of ice cream. It wasn't a small bowl of ice cream. We're talking a soup bowl of ice cream covered in chocolate syrup. 

Overall, not too bad. Could have been better, could have been worse!

Sopping wet after a early morning run

If you are seeking creative ideas, go out walking. Angels whisper to a man when he goes for a walk. ~Raymond Inmon

I went walking and running at five o'clock this morning.  I don't recall hearing any angels whispering to me.   The only voice I heard was my own.   It was saying, "You crazy darn fool.  It's too early, too hot and you're too old to be doing this running."

Despite the voice of discontent, I exercised for thirty minutes.  I ran and walked two miles through the main streets of Linn.   I ran several feet, then I walked several feet.   I did this over and over again until I made it safely back to my automobile.

I turned on the car and flipped up the air conditioning.  I was sopping wet.  You could have rung me out like a dish rag.

The "itch" to run?

There is an itch in runners. ~Arnold Hano

I'm not sure I have the "itch" to be a runner.  I ran this morning before it got really hot.  It wasn't pretty.  I was huffing and puffing and ready to pass out.  
 
With new running shoes, I was ready to run.  I ran half of a mile and then my body said, "Stop you sill fool."  I listened!   I turned around headed back to the car.  I walked and ran the next half mile.  
 
I told the boys I would train with them for their cross country running this fall.  I'm not sure I'm going to be much help.   I guess I could drive the car beside them.  "Keep going boys! Run faster! Don't make me chase you with this car!" 
 
I will keep giving it a try each day and see what happens.  I'm not sure what motivates everyone to run in a race like a 5K or marathon.  Whatever "itch" they have, I must be missing it.   I'm in awe of everyone who does it, but physically and mentally I am just not there!

Baby got new shoes

I love running cross country....On a track, I feel like a hamster. ~ Robin Williams

Logan pulled the shoebox from the bag, opened the box and sat on the living room floor staring at his new pair of Nike tennis shoes. "I almost want to cry, these are so beautiful," Logan says. 

Seriously, this much love for a pair of new tennis shoes.  

The ten-year-old brat whined about going to Columbia.  "I don't want to waste my whole day shopping," he whines.   Neither did I but he and his brothers needed new tennis shoes for the upcoming school year. 

The crabbiness didn't cease until we were finally inside the mall.  There was a complete change in his disposition when we walked into Champs.  "Whoa, this is like shoe heaven," says Logan.   He almost peed in his pants when the shoes he wanted were on sale.   

All three boys found a pair of shoes at a reasonable price. Even I couldn't pass up the good deal on running shoes.  Of course the boys spent way more for their shoes than I did. I walked away with $30 shoes, in-soles and some good advice about running shoes. 

Hope Caleb and Logan are ready to run.  Daddy's got new shoes and ready to start practicing for the cross country season. 

Why wait until Monday to start your diet?

‎"Thoughts come clearly while one walks." ~ Thomas Mann

I’m kick starting my diet on a Friday evening. Everyone else starts on Monday. I’m starting on Friday evening.

We’ll be dining at a local restaurant. I love the house grilled salad. It’s a combination of mixed spring greens with pecans, bacon, hard boiled eggs, tomatoes and choice of grilled salmon or chicken breast. I’ll be having mine with the grilled chicken breast.

Of course there will be ranch dressing but I always ask for that on the side.

Tomorrow morning I’ll be up early, so I’ll go for a walk. I might even lift weights before I have to pick up my son from bible camp.  The possibilities are endless.

It’s time to get serious about keeping my New Year’s resolution to lose weight and keep it off. So far, I’ve lost it and gained some of it back. Trying to keep a New Year’s resolution is no easy task.

No oat bran on the drive-thru menu

We load up on oat bran in the morning so we'll live forever. Then we spend the rest of the day living like there's no tomorrow. ~Lee Iacocca

I did not eat oat bran for breakfast today.  I had an Egg McMuffin from McDonald's.  Of course, if you read yesterday's post, I spoke of having no more excuses for dining on fast food from the drive-thru.   Within less than 12 hours I was already back at McDonald's grabbing some grub.   And my excuse is that I simply did not take the time to fix breakfast at home.

According to Men's Health magazine, you can eat two Egg McMuffins from McDonald's for fewer calories and fat than a bagel with two tablespoons of cream cheese.  So I'm thinking I made the right decision ordering breakfast from Mickey D's.

No more excuses, farewell bleacher butt

"I have metal fillings in my teeth. My refrigerator magnets keep pulling me into the kitchen. That's why I can't lose weight." ~ Author Unknown.

Baseball season has officially ended at our house with Logan's baseball game this evening.  I've been sitting on bleachers and in lawn chairs since April.   In those few short months I've had plenty of time to reacquire my seasonal bleacher butt.

With the close of the season I have no more excuses as to why I am not exercising or eating right.  No more quick trips through the McDonald's drive-thru for dinner.  No more excuses about being too tired to exercise in the morning because of a late night at the ball game.  No more excuses.

Despite the sleep deprivation and the fast food dining, I always enjoy watching the boys play ball and visiting with the other parents.  Great season boys!

Thunderstorms likely, let's barbecue

"The story of barbecue is the story of America: Settlers arrive on great unspoiled continent, discover wondrous riches, set them on fire and eat them." ~Vince Staten

 For his 15th birthday, my son Derek wanted barbecued chicken.  He was told that we had limited time to prepare such a delicacy.   He was quick to point out that he knew how to grill and he would start grilling the chicken before we got home from work.

When I arrived home, I found Derek and his little brother Logan under a canopy on the back deck with a pitcher of lemonade and the stereo turned up about ten notches too loud.   Is it any wonder he didn't hear the phone when I tried to call him on the way home from work?

"Are you having a little party?" I asked.   Derek replied.  "Sure am!"   I informed him that his patio party was about to get blown away by the big thunderstorm that was headed our way.   I'm not sure he believed me because he wasn't in a hurry to take down the canopy.   Within a few minutes the wind picked up, the thunder and lightening started and the radio station warned of an impending thunderstorm complete with strong winds and hail.  

"Oh, Logan you better help me take down this canopy before it gets blown away," cried Derek.  Luckily the boys got the canopy down and in the house before it started to pour down rain.  

With the chicken still grilling, Derek was a little perplexed as to how he was going to finish his birthday dinner.  Again he ordered his little brother to find him an umbrella.  Like a faithful puppy, Logan fetched an umbrella for Derek. 

"Ok, you hold it while I turn the chicken," said Derek.  Logan looked at him and said something I wouldn't normally appreciate coming from a ten-year-old boy.  "Screw you, hold your own umbrella," said Logan.  "I'm not getting wet."

So now as the rain continues to pour down, we wait for Derek to finish grilling the chicken.  We are hoping we get to eat sometime tonight.

Tad more gray with each year

“Chocolate is the answer.  Who cares what the question is.” ~ Author Unknown

We are having a pre-birthday celebration this evening at our house.  The grandmothers are coming over for cake and ice cream to celebrate what will be Derek's 15th birthday tomorrow.  Derek gets a year older and my hair turns a tad more gray with each year.

Speaking of gray.... While shopping for Derek's birthday gifts yesterday, my youngest son, Logan informed me that I really needed to stop coloring my hair and just let it go gray.   "What?" I asked with disgust.  "Yeah, just let it go gray," he said.  "It will look much better."   Seriously, the boy has me confused with my mother.  She colors her hair.  Clairol or Loreal or any other hair color has never touched this hair.   Well there was those highlights that I added back in the 90s.  Or was it the dawn of the new millinium when I had those added.  I can't remember.  Anway, they don't count.

Tomorrow Derek will take his written test and if he passes the test, the officials at the Driver's License Bureau will be giving Mr. Derek permission to drive with his parents.   Good thing we are having chocolate cake tonight.  I'll have to eat two pieces just to calm my nerves and emotionally prepare myself for the "roller coaster ride" that awaits me.

Honestly, if I keep eating like this I'm going to be a fat gray haired old man!

Naps are good

"I joined a health club last year, spent about 400 bucks. Haven't lost a pound. Apparently attendance is required. " ~ Author Unknown 

It is extremely hot outside today. The temperature climbed way pass 100 degrees today.  After a short shopping trip to Menard's for Derek's birthday, I passed out from the heat and exhaustion.  I needed a nap and I don't take naps!

Too tired for the Jeter workout

I recently had my annual physical examination, which I get once every seven years, and when the nurse weighed me, I was shocked to discover how much stronger the Earth's gravitational pull has become since 1990. ~Dave Barry

I didn't even bother getting on the scale today.  The scale has been reading the same every single day.  If I would eat less and exercise more, I'm sure the number on the scale would go down.  The scale needs to start tipping in my favor!
 
Perhaps I should consider Derek Jeter's workout routine.  The Yankee baseball player became the 28th player in history to reach 3,000 hits today and only the second to do so with a home run.  He is the first Yankee to have 3,000 hits.  
 
A few years ago, Jeter was featured in Men's Health magazine.  The secret to his athletic physique was super sets.  Barbell squats, dumbbell dead lifts, barbell lunges, single-arm neutral-grip dumbbell row and rotation (whatever those are), dumbbell incline-bench presses and pull ups.  I'm not even sure this workout has anything to do with accomplishing 3,000 hits and I'm exhausted just reading about his workout.
 
I'm already tired.  I've been out late the last two nights at the Osage County Fair.  Instead of a workout, I need a nap.   I absolutely need a second wind before 8 p.m.   Caleb has his final game of the season, the championship game this evening.   I surely don't want to be dozing off in the stands during his big game. 
 
Maybe tomorrow, I'll do the Jeter workout!

Leisure breakfast kick started the day

"All happiness depends on a leisurely breakfast." ~ John Gunther


My day began with a leisure breakfast at the Chop House Grille open for breakfast only on Fridays.   It was between a big, wholesome breakfast or doughnuts from the Deutsches Heim store.  I opted for the wholesome breakfast.
 
I ate reasonably while dining at the Chop House Grille.  Eggs and ham with a biscuit and a few of their fried potatoes.   It was a great way to kick start the day especially when I didn't really want to get out of bed in the first place.  
 
And for those of you who read last night's post, I did not purchase a fried fish sandwich at the fair to reheat for breakfast this morning.  I would have been severely ill the rest of the day had I ate one of those this morning.

McDonald's breakfast not biggest or best meal of the day

"Breakfast should be your biggest and best meal of the day. It sets the tone for the day. Oatmeal, eggwhites, fruit. Even fish." ~ Bob Harper.

My breakfast today wasn't exactly the biggest or the best meal of the day.   I had breakfast from McDonalds.  It included an Egg McMuffin and a Yogurt Parfait.   The egg was like rubber and the fruit in my parfait was frozen.  

My best meal of the day was the salad I had at Dave's Pizza and Wings.  I had half of the Home Salad.  I won't mention the garlic bread covered in butter and cheese that I dunked in the pizza sauce.   I'm sure I cut some calories by not having the pizza or the wings.

I'm guessing that tonight's meal will be the biggest meal of the day.  Well, it would be for some people if you like food from the county fair.   The Osage County Fair starts this evening.  A fish sandwich is always a must at the fair.  Once I've had my fish sandwich, I'm pretty much done with the fair.

Perhaps I should purchase a fish sandwich tonight and save it for tomorrow's breakfast. However, I'm guessing that Bob Harper wasn't recommending I have a deep fried fish sandwich for breakfast.

'Cook at home more, eat out less'

“My doctor told me to start my exercise program very gradually. Today I drove past a store that sells sweat pants.” ~ Author Unknown
With no ball games this evening, there was plenty of time to prepare dinner at home this evening. Since I was home before Paula this evening, I decided I would be like Rocco DiSpirito and take charge of the kitchen. According to Rocco, one of the keys to successful weight loss and good health is to cook at home more often and eat out less. I believe that is easier said than done when you have three boys actively participating in sports such as baseball and basketball. However, this evening, I’m taking his advice and cooking at home.

As I started preparing the food, I was quickly joined by the boys.

Derek came in the house while I was unthawing the Kansas City strips. “Are you planning to grill those?” he asked. My answer was yes, if there was propane in the tank for the gas grill. “There is,” he said. “I can grill them, if you want me to?” I seasoned the meat and handed them over to the boy. If he wanted to stand out in the heat to grill the meat, I was all for it.

While Derek was outside prepping the grill, I got the potatoes and the broccoli ready. With the broccoli steaming, Caleb came in the kitchen to find me cutting the potatoes in half. “What are you doing?” Caleb asked. “I am making twice baked potatoes,” I responded. Caleb’s eyes lit up. “I love twice baked potatoes,” he commented. “Can I help you make them?” As I spooned out the inside of the potatoes, I had Caleb get out the sour cream, the cheese and other seasonings. Within a few short minutes, Caleb and I had whipped together a delicious creamy mashed potato filling for the potato boats I placed on a cookie sheet.

By the time Paula had made it home from work, the boys and I had the supper ready. All she had to do was sit down at the dining room table. When Paula asked Logan what he had made for dinner, he didn’t have much to say. He grinned. Knowing that he had been outside playing and hadn’t made a contribution to what was on the table, Logan didn’t have much to say. It was obvious who would be clearing the table and helping with the dishes.

Within 90 minutes or less, the boys and I prepared, ate and cleaned up from a home cooked meal. I wouldn’t go as far as saying it was a low calorie meal. I am suspecting the meal was about 850 calories or more. However, I would say the meal was a healthy and delicious alternative to our regular fast food, drive thru meals. I suppose Rocco DiSpirito would be proud.

Subway and chopsticks

"And I find chopsticks frankly distressing.  Am I alone in thinking it odd that a people ingenious enough to invent paper, gunpowder, kites and any number of other useful objects, and who have a noble history extending back 3,000 years haven't yet worked out that a pair of knitting needles is no way to capture food? " ~Bill Bryson

I'm not sure how Jared did it.  How was he able to live off of Subway everyday, twice a day?  I have had Subway twice today and I am done with Subway for the week. Seriously, how did he do that?  

So, I have discovered the Subway diet is not for me. I think I might consider eating all my food with chopsticks.  I'm thinking if I can't get the food to my mouth, I am bound to lose weight.  

Who am I kidding? I'll throw done the sticks and eat it with my hands!

What is patriotism but the love of the food one ate as a child?  ~Lin Yutang

Ate too much. Swatted too many flies. Saw some fireworks. The day is done. Happy 4th of July!

Late night reading

You can find your way across this country using burger joints the way a navigator uses stars. ~Charles Kuralt

Today we began our journey back home.  We passed by many hamburger joints and "golden arches" along the way.  We even stopped at one, despite the grumbling of our youngest son, who would have preferred a Taco Bell.  

The long drive allowed for plenty if time to read my book. Paula gets motion sickness and the pills for motion sickness make her tired and drowsy, so she opted to drive.  While she drove, I read page after page after page of the book I have been reading this month. 

Tonight, once we were settled in the hotel, I finished the final chapter of The Help.  After finishing the book, I was pleasantly satisfied. I savored every scene of the book.  Even if there were nights when all I could read was five pages, I still enjoyed every minute of the book. It will certainly be one of my favorite books. 

So, now it is late. I'm finishing up this post and then it's off to sleep. I hope I can get myself out of bed to exercise in the morning. 

No cold cereal for us on this vacation

One of the very nicest things about life is the way we must regularly stop whatever it is we are doing and devote our attention to eating. ~Luciano Pavarotti and William Wright, Pavarotti, My Own Story


While on this vacation in the Wisconsin Dells, we've been staying in a suite at the Glacier Canyon Lodge which is a property of the Wilderness Hotel and Golf Resort.  The suite comes with two bedrooms, a living room and a kitchen.

We have definitely been using that kitchen for breakfast, lunch and dinner.  Before we left home, Paula made a trip to the grocery store, purchasing food for all our meals while we are here at the waterpark resort.  It's been a little extra work for all of us, but we've saved a great deal of money and we've ate some really good meals while we have been here.

We've ate tacos, grilled chicken breast, baked ravioli, hamburgers and tonight steak.  for breakfast, Paula's made us biscuits and gravy, bacon and eggs and tomorrow before we leave we'll be having homemade breakfast burritos.   No cold cereal for breakfast and no lunch meat for us.   We've even had homemade brownies and chocolate chip cookies.

I believe it worked out well.  The first meal we ate at Moose Jaw when we arrived cost us $75.00 and that was for lunch.  I can't imagine how much we would have spent in food if we had to go out to eat.  Paula spent $175.00 in groceries before we left on this trip.  I'm thinking we did well.

Our kitchen got a workout.  It's probably the most the oven and dishwasher have ever been used in this unit since the resort opened for business.

Hiking the hills, beating the heat & dodging the horse crap

I dream of hiking into my old age.  ~Marlyn Doan

A walk through the wilderness complex was hot, sweaty and challenging. 

I got up at six o'clock this morning to explore a few inches of this 600 acre resort we are staying at in the Wisconsin Dells.   Right outside our door is a parking lot that leads to a nature trail.  I figured if I got up early to hike the trail, I could beat the blasted heat.  Five minutes into the hike I was already sweating profusely. 

The hike also had some challenges.  I had to dodge the horse shit left by the umpteen horses that hiked the trail the previous day.  At one point the trail turned to pavement and intersected with the golf course where I had to avoid the delirious, senile golf cart drivers out for their morning round of golf.   Of course, there were plenty of early morning sprinkler systems to dodge.  And did I mention I got lost on the property. I thought I would be gone thirty minutes and an hour later I was finally back at the hotel room. 

I can honestly say that I got in my workout today.