Off the Wagon

Holy Overeating Batman! The special events over the past couple days have offered a plethera of tempting treats and sent my resolve to eat good into the toilet.

Though delicious, Marie's Rasperry Vinaigrette dressing on romaine is no match for cake, peanut butter cookies and Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip.

Tomorrow I will get back to fruit & veggies & chicken or I'll have to buy a new wardrobe to support my new friends - the extra 10 pounds that I've been hanging out with lately.

Block Aid

I am so having writers block. My apologies. I need to focus and pick something to blog about every day, like "TV Moment of the Day".

Last night I was jumping back and forth between I Want To Be a Hilton and AFI Top 100 Movie Quotes. I didn't watch all 100 movie quotes, but it sure made me want to rent Casablanca.

One of my personal favorites is "there's no crying in baseball" - I love Tom Hanks in that scene from A League of Their Own. I also love Tom Hanks in the scene from Turner & Hooch where he's rolling around with the dog in his skivvies. Did I mention I also had a crush on Ritchie Cunningham (Ron Howard) when I was young. What can I say, red hair and freckles were my tall, dark & handsome.

Vacation Elation

Back from a very wonderful vacation in the Outer Banks. Wild horsed, wild dolphins, and great company!

I can't even describe how insanely excited I was to have dolphins show up very close as we were boogie boarding. I pee'd myself (which was ok, because it's the ocean - already filled with lots of fish pee and God knows what else). You see, "my name is Tina, and I am a Dolphin Fanatic." From the early years watching Flipper to nearly moving across the country, away from friends and family, to go to SDSU to become a Marine Biologist (I STILL kick myself for not doing that), it's been a long love affair.

The next day, the dolphins appeared even closer. I got defiantly brave, ran into the water, determined to have a life altering experience interacting with wild dolphins, only to find that the tide made the water quite a bit deeper than I expected, causing a flash back - me, six years old, fingers clenched across my face, spread just enough to peek through, watching the horror that was JAWS - and with that, I chickened out and ran/swam back to shore. Damn you Steven Spielberg, damn you!

As we left yesterday, driving along the beach, to everyone's delight we were escorted along by a particularly playful pair. I think the OBX Visitor's Association trained them to do this to make sure people come back year after year. Very effective!

Having a great vacation! Dolphins were very close as we were boogie boarding yesterday - seventh heaven.

Challenged

Jenny & I "ran" the Corporate Challenge last night. Ran = run a little, walk alot, run a little, walk alot. Yep, made it in just under record time (record time for the Boston Marathon maybe).

I really hate running. I'd rather ride my bike hundreds of miles rather than run a mile. I just did it for the t-shirt and free food.

Speaking of the t-shirt, Jenny created the winning design for Kodak and as we were all cheering for her, they snapped my pic and it made their website. I'm just glad I don't look like a complete dork, because 4 out of 5 dentists think I do look like a dork in most pictures (luckily, they say I look quite normal in person).

Free Philosophy

Thinking I was going to get all existential on you? I'm lucky I can spell existential. But free beauty products, now that's enough to enlighten anyone.

"The "featured products" were basically men's skin care stuff - shave kits and cologne.

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Happy Anniversary

Hub sent me roses from Arena's today for our 14th anniversary. I'm a lucky girl.

May the Force be With You as You Dream

Saw Star Wars last night, so I am no longer uncool. Or am I hiply nerdish? Either way, HELLO DARTH VADER! Mmmm, could have used a few more scenes of young Skywalker waking up from a bad dream. I, on the other hand, woke up this morning from a good dream in which I was hugging Anakin. Damn you evil alarm clock! I knew you were from the DARK SIDE!

Drive-In, Pig Out

Went to the drive-in this weekend with my sis and Mya. It was a candy-covered-fried-food frenzy. Combine cheap prices, comfort food and limited access and something clicks in my brain that leaves me a danger to myself and others.

Even though Jenny says I'm a "food exaggerator" (as in, "I ate sooo much yesterday" when I only ate a hot dog and a half of a watermelon), I am not exaggerating the indulgence that occurred at the drive-in.

Here's what I really ate: 3/4 of a slice of pizza (all would have been mine if not for mini-me (Mya) who also loves junk food), not much of a gallon size coke, a bite of a s'more cookie, half a box of Butterfinger Bites*, 3/4 of a cheeseburger (again, the rest given up to mini-me), a bite of a hot dog, and 1/2 a thing of fries.

Now you may be thinking... not too bad considering it's the drive-in and all... but all this came AFTER a dinner of steak and potatoes. And especially this coming from someone who was on track to wear a swimsuit next week - all week I ate chicken, salads, mushrooms, fruit, chicken, tuna, cheese and almonds. But get me behind the wheel of a car while in front of a movie screen and **SNAP**, bikini-body-bye-bye!

*Note: These were worth every last calorie and then some!

Self Conscious

As I entered my Little Gram's Senior Living Apartment Building this week, there was a group of blue-hairs sitting outside chatting it up with each other. For some reason, this was extremely intimidating to me. Why on earth should I be intimidated? This is a key question I need to address in therapy.

Here's the conversation in my head and the scenario - you be the judge if I'm crazy or not...

[me thinking] OMG, there's a whole group of them, they're going to stare at me.

[them, chattering]

[me getting closer]

[them looking]

[me thinking] OMG, they're looking at me! Am I walking funny? Should I look? Should I smile?

[them, suddenly completely silent, all staring]

[me, slight smile]

[me thinking] AAAGGGHHHH! I've silenced them. The moment I'm out of earshot, they're going to spend the next 15 minutes talking about me. AAAAGGGHHHH!

[me, turning the corner, thinking] Finally, I made it through. Whew!

[SUDDENLY, more blue hairs!! All staring also! ]

[One deranged looking man with Charles Manson crazy hair]: "HI!!"

[me thinking] OMG, don't upset him, be nice.

[me] "Hi."

[me, walking faster] I hope he heard me and didn't think I was rude.

[me getting inside the building] AAAGGHHHH! Just let me get up to the safety of my Grandma's apartment. No more crazy staring blue-hairs and no more old-person smell. AAAAGGHHH.

Oh, the traumatic life I lead.

One more Goodbye

We had to let Grizzy go last night. Chuck took him in to the vet for a growth on his side that had ruptured. The vet suspected it was a malignant tumor and thought he might have others. She was right. When they put him under and x-rayed, they found a "lemon-sized" tumor on his heart and a few other tumors in his lungs. They said the kindest thing to do was to not wake him up. If the tumor on his heart were to rupture, it would be a "very bad death". He was 13 1/2 years old and barely hobbling around, so we knew his time was nearing to a close, but no matter how prepared you are, it's devastating.

Mya had grown very attached to him and would constantly say, "Grizzy, treat" and bravely hold out a biscuit as he nibbled away at her little hand.

His ears were so soft as I kissed him goodbye.

No more death for me. That's it. Everyone and everything better stay healthy. Stop smoking. Eat your vegetables. Drive sensibly. Don't step out in front of buses. Don't bungee jump. Don't do drugs (except in moderation). Stay home, watch tv, and eat brussel sprouts, dammit!

Mmmm... Kettle Korn from the Lilac Festival - waited in line for over half an hour to get it - well worth the wait.

Sugar Rush

Another restaurant realized what people (like me) really want - dessert. The O-bar in West Hollywood has a Sugar Rush Hour - much like Happy Hour, but you can get high on sugar instead of drunk on alcohol.

I thought it looked familiar, then realized that this is the bar I went to with my brother on my "fun" visit to LA last November. I was surrounded by gay men who, though mainly interested in influencing my brother's persuation, were kind and funny and very enjoyable to hang with. It's not common in LA (in my experience) to just meet strangers who are nice and inviting, so it was a great evening.

Anyway, we didn't eat, just got drinks, but you can bet my ever-widening ass that next time I will partake of a dessert. Here's the menu... mmm... D'o'nuts!

DAVE’S FAVORITE D'O'NUTS
Fluffy Brioche Doughnuts Served Warm with Cinnamon Sugar Sprinkles, Butterscotch and Chocolate Dipping Sauces.

HEAVENLY CHOCOLATE TRUFFLE CAKE
Extra Rich Flourless Chocolate Sensation Served with Homemade Buttermilk Ice Cream and Fresh Raspberries.

BANANA CHEESECAKE
A Rich, Satisfying Treat atop a Chocolate Hazelnut Crust. We Add Dark Chocolate Sorbet Just to Show We Don’t Monkey Around with Our Bananas.

MEYER LEMON PANNA COTTA
Panna Cotta translated means, ''Cooked Cream.'' Meadow Adds Her Own Flair to this Traditional Italian Favorite with Raspberry Sauce and Almond Cookies.

WARM CINNAMON APPLE PIE
An Individual Apple Pie Served Piping Hot from Our Oven Topped with Vermont Cheddar Cheese Ice Cream. Mom would be so proud.

STRAWBERRY 'N CREAM NAPOLEON
Luscious Layers of Vanilla Mascarpone, Strawberry Sorbet and Fresh Berries Held Together with Almond Phyllo Tuilles.

THOMAS' DECADENT ''O'' COOKIE
A Giant Chocolate Chip Cookie Baked to Order in an Iron Skillet, Topped with Three Scoops of Vanilla Bean Ice Cream and Covered in Rich Chocolate and Caramel Sauce.

HOMEMADE ICE CREAM OR SORBET AND BISCOTTI

Goodbye

Well, yesterday, fourteen years to the day my Father (her son) died, my Grandmother passed away. I suppose that in terms of someone dying, this was the best of situations, older, prepared, peacefully. Tomorrow is the service. Let's see if any of my Uncles show up on their Harleys.

Purse Me!

Mya training to be a champion shopper like her Aunt Tina - while at the mall, she picked up this Dooney & Bourke and proclaimed, "Purse, Me!"

Happy Birthday

Today I am only four years younger than Jenny. HAPPY BIRTHDAY LJC!

Grandma Notes

I thought I'd clarify that the Grandmother that is dying is my Father's Mother (Big Gram). Not my Mom's Mom (Little Gram). Little Gram is the one who makes Pizelles, always tells me I look like I've lost weight then attempts to overfeed me, has shoes that are wider than they are long, hangs out with my crazy Aunt Del, gets disgusted when I give her gifts, and who we are very close with. Little Gram is doing mostly well, though about as deaf as a doorknob.

Big Gram is the one in the hospital. We were never as close with her. Dad's side of the family, in general, tended not to acknowledge us much. Whenever I go to visit this Gram, it seems that she has pictures of all her other Grandchildren plastered all over, but none of us. I remember specifically giving her pictures because of this, then next visit - no where to be found. Am I paranoid?

My sister was always her favorite though (at least among of our little group of outcast grandchildren) and sure enough, when I went to see her last week, her first words were, "how's Sherri?". Then next couple visits, she seemed to be getting better, but Sunday she asked for only comfort care, Monday they turned off dialysis, and yesterday she slipped in to a coma. She is going peacefully and is not in pain, which makes it easier, however, the whole idea of dealing with death is still too fresh in the sense of reminders of Mom's ordeal and not having Mom to help us through.

So in an odd, indirect way, it is very traumatic.

Rough weekend. Mother's Day. Grandmother dying. "The" Hospital. UGH.

On the brighter side...

The baby falcons have hatched. Jenny is one year closer to being old like me. The weather was amazing today. My niece Mya is hilarious - she thinks her name is "Me".

Shiny Shiny

While doing some research for work, I came across this site, Shiny Shiny - a Girl's Guide to Gadgets. It is a wonderful site and my estrogen swells with the site of all these girly products, especially this Monkey Nail Dryer. I MUST HAVE IT!!






:)