January 29, 2008 @ 18:13

Monday’s Stats

Miles:  3

Crunches:  300

Hours of Other Fitness Pursuits: 2

Pounds Lost:  0

I’m happy with that. 

The flu finally knocked me down for three solid days and then left me weak as a kitten for the following three.  But I’m feeling like myself today.  Thankfully.  I baked a Fig Spice cake last night and brought it to work for the January birthdays today.  And forgot to take a picture.  But everyone seemed to like it, so that’s good. 

I’m also happy with new progress for Puppy.  He began occupational therapy this week.  Has a funny ring to it for a four year old, doesn’t it?  But it involved giant balls, a ladder, and lots of other very cool playground type things.  He transitioned easily.  When it was time for me to leave him alone with the two therapists, he was fine.  When it was time to leave the very cool playground stuff, he was fine.  And for now, I feel like kindergarten isn’t looming so threateningly out there on the horizon.  He’s been learning to write, sidewalk chalk words keep popping up on the walls when I least expect it.  Horn, Drum, Giant, Tuba, Ball, and my favorite, his daddy’s too, I’m sure, Guitar.  I still can’t find where he’s got that chalk hidden.  But he’s writing remarkably well, so for now, I’m not looking too hard and I haven’t washed the words off the walls.  Not even the ones that appeared in the dining room during my bout with the flu.  Probably not wise to encourage it in quite that way, but I’m so pleased with the writing itself.  His communication skills have been getting clearer, too.  We’ve had conversations lately that have put little frogs in my throat.  Like the chicken in the box day.  Or the day he was talking to his grandma on the phone and answered a question she asked with “hmmm, no, I don’t really think so.”  His connections seem to be growing stonger, little by little. 

We sat down with a new doctor yesterday who put him through a number of tests.  Pictures and questions and all sorts of special blocks.  Red blocks and white blocks to arrange in the patterns he asked for.  Fancier red and white blocks with diagonals which made triangles and diamonds and quilt-like patterns.  He stacked together a long diagonal division in the red and white and it sparked a memory for me of the summer of the Diver Down album.  I don’t know what year in particular it was that I was thinking of.  My senior year of high school I suppose.  1987, I just remember a long summer of Van Halen and UB40, cruising at night, the lake during the day, Brannon’s Drive In limeades with a little something extra added in.  Is it terrible for me to wish that for my boy, because I do.  And I just can’t not.  A perfect teenaged summer of freedom.  That’s what I thought of as he sat in my lap in the psychologist’s office, stacking blocks that we asked him to stack, in an effort to put our minds at ease. It made me wish for that summer for him someday. 

He’s recently begun exploring his sense of humor.  Friday night, he ran into the living room where Trixie and I were watching a movie and said “Mommy!  Can you spell poopie?”  And then laughed hysterically.  This continued for a half hour.  As apparently he discovered that there is no end to the amusement a boy can have with the word Poopie.  Trixie said, “Oh, Sara.  He’s so ready for kindergarten.”  Yeah, I think so, too.  Surely this is a boy with crazy teenaged summers ahead of him. 

From the child who is unrealistically attached to the Pooh jammies this morning, comes wisdom beyond his years . . . and mine, too, for that matter . . . 

Sesame Street is on as I help him get dressed.  A princess puppet laments on how hard it is to wake up in the morning.  I groggily realize that it’s Sleeping Beauty.  Another puppet pops in with a Magical Sleeping Beauty Deluxe Wake Up Kit!  Oh, thank god!!!  It’s a rooster with an alarm clock and a trumpet.  Now you won’t need Prince Charming anymore!  Prince Charming begins to fear she’s been kissing other princes.  She explains that no, there are no other princes, I’ve just found a way to take care of myself.  They wrap up the whole song and dance and then Puppy, very deliberately looks at me and very seriously says . . . 

“Mommy, that’s not magic.  It’s just a chicken in a box.” 

Think there’s a profound lesson in there?  Yeah, me, too . . .  Like the scene in Something To Talk About, one of my favorites:  “It’s just a man on a horse, baby girl, just a man on a horse.”  *sigh*   We don’t need a prince and we don’t need a magical kit, just a reasonable way to take care of ourselves, and sometimes a chicken in a box is enough. 

Monday’s Stats

All zeros.  All of it.  I am fighting off a cold, or the flu, or some new mutating virus that is forcing me to re-evaluate my willingness to go to the track when it’s 22 degrees outside.  I have, as Trixie would say, “been bein’ hay-ve” on the food side, however, so no weight gain.  Maybe there is some magic to the chicken in a box theory.  It is sounding mighty tastey right about now . . .  with a side of mashed potatoes . . .  and gravy . . . 

January 19, 2008 @ 17:19

 . . .  on how one might convince sweet Puppy that his pooh jammies are too small?  We’ve even added Spiderman jammies that have web underarms and Superman jammies that have a cape, cowboy jammies and train jammies and the list goes on!  But as the week goes by, he invariably says, by Thursday night at the latest, “I want Pooh jammies, Mommy!”  Not sure if I’ve got the guts to toss them into the next round of Goodwill donations and let the chips fall . . .  Saints preserve us . . .  Maybe it’s just one of those things that will eventually work itself out, like potty training . . .  or Bear learning where the clothes hamper is . . .  ah . . .  someday . . .  I suppose for now we’ll enjoy it as another one of those things that are cute when you’re little but not when you’re a grown up. 

January 18, 2008 @ 18:15

Now some of us liked the old and some of us liked the new, but I loved Nonnie’s new version of my original Persian Love Chicken  so much, I’ll most likely make it her way from now on. 

Nonnie’s New and Improved Persian Love Chicken for a Crowd

6 lbs. chicken cut into 2 inch cubes, I prefer white meat, but I imagine that dark would be just fine if that’s what you prefer . . .
2 large onions, sweet if you can get ‘em, cut up into large pieces
2 cups shredded carrots
1 cup of sugar mixed with
     3 tablespoons ground cardamom
     3 teaspoons smoked paprika
     2 teaspoons ground ginger
Additional 3 teaspoons ground cardamom
3 cups Rose’s Lime Juice
½ cup olive oil

Combine chicken, onion and carrot in a large bowl.  Heat about two tablespoons of olive oil in large skillet, add 1 teaspoon of cardamom.  When the oil is hot, add 1/3 of the chicken mixture.  You will be working in batches since this is such a large quantity.  Sautee the chicken until it begins to brown on the edges.  I like mine pretty thoroughly carmelized, but you can adjust as you like.  Nonnie and I agree that most Indian and Middle Eastern dishes require good toasty carmelization, those lovely almost blackened edges on the onions . . .  mmmmmmm . . .  But, we know, there’s a lot of room for interpretation here.  (I always say that, and I always mean that, too.) Place cooked chicken mixture into a large oven proof olive oiled dish (we’re going to braise it to perfection next).  Pour 1/3 of the cardamom sugar and 1/3 of the Rose’s Lime Juice over the mixture.  Repeat this process until you have cooked all the chicken.  Stir thoroughly and place, uncovered, in a 350 degree oven and bake until the top is carmelized.  Stir the lovely bubbly browned edges in and return to the oven to carmelize on top once more.  Serve over rice.  With the large increase of lime juice this dish is mouthwateringly tart, and the carrots impart an incredibly beautiful golden color to it, and the smokey paprika is just a hint behind the lime.  It’s lovely, really! 

 January 14, 2008 @ 18:06

Mileage:  3

Number of Crunches: 200

Hours of Other Fitness Activities: 1 – seriously, the couch won’t let me go!

Pounds Lost: 0, we will call this a victory only because we did not gain.  How we did not gain, we do not know.  Also, we do not know why we are referring to ourselves in the third person as if we were a bloody queen . . . 

Spent a glorious weekend on the road with three of my top ten favorite people in the whole wide world.  Part of the extra specialness of it, was Dano and Cshiz.  My newest favorites.  We just became friends in the last year and a half and I have to say that I love them.  Not LUV, not like you love a new pair of shoes.  L.O.V.E. Love.  These are two of the nicest, most genuine, AND most HI-larious people ever.  How often do you get those things together?  Seriously, saintly sweet and can make you pee your pants laughing?  I’m in!  It was especially fun to mix them in with our old old friends by attending an SCA event with them and watch as everyone was as charmed by them as I have been.  Truly, you guys, you are two in a billion. 

Also, the joy of the weekend put into sharp perspective how darkly I have spent my last four months or so.  Sadness be damned.  I’m glad to be back.  It clicked for me as I got a hug from one of my other top ten favorite people in the world, Juan Grande.  When he hugged me, he held on.  Just long enough for me to gather up that lump in my throat.  As it formed, I realized how foolish I had been with my stealthy plan to hide out and pull myself together alone.  Foolish girl.  And thanks, brother.  So, an event spent, an epiphany experienced, and a lot of good food eaten.  Nonnie took my Persian Love Chicken and took it up a giant notch.  We’re a good team girl.  Yes, I know you were just thinking that! I’ll post the new recipe later this week. 

Top Ten Things I Learned This Weekend: 

1. Oaths were broken . . . 
2. Hot Water is HOT!!!
3. Get out the way, for ole Dan Tucker, it’s too late to get your supper! 
4. When Trixie tosses in her sleep, she sounds like a zombie to me. 
5. I’m a pansy for #3 and I know it. 
6. I live in a Celestocracy.  The benefits here are GREAT! 
7. I say ochre, you say okra, let’s call the whole thing off! 
8. Careful who you admit to thinking is lust-worthy, Dano’s standards are pretty high (well, hell, we know that just by looking at his wife) and he may be forced to consider leaving you on the side of the road. 
9. Not everyone has seen “When Harry Met Sally”
10. No matter how late it is, Nonnie still wants that margarita!!!

January 10, 2008 @ 17:36

Can you look ready to front a all girl band (and lemme be specific here, I mean an all girl band which would not suck) and be all about the comfort food? 

 YES, because Bake and Destroy says so . . . 

Donut Muffins, I mean seriously, I’m sold . . . not to mention being able to blog about cupcakes and scurvy together.  Well, without being one of those ummm, how do I put this . . .  interesting, yeah, interesting pirate people you sometimes run into in real life, funny in Dodgeball, not so much in the hallway of your hotel at two in the morning.  I’ll tell you about that one later . . .  no . . .  really.  For now, Donut Muffins will have to tide you over. 

January 08, 2008 @ 17:48

I am equally saddened and relieved that my attempt to keep up with the book club that some of my friends had a go with has officially been abandoned.  Not that I didn’t love the idea.  But it became absolutely clear to me early on, that my widely varied crowd of friends have equally widely varied taste in books.  Trixie and I regularly joke that we will never fight over a man.  We are as a far apart in book choices as we are in crush choices.  McGuyver never did anything for me.  She owns the series on DVD.  She couldn’t talk me into reading The Birth of Venus.  She loved it profoundly, I was unmoved.  Even music choices are the same for me.  It began with Split Enz.  Members of this band would eventually become the band you most likely know as Crowded House.  New album out last year, btw.  But before that, I loved them.  In all their incarnations.  And how can you not love songs like I Hope I Never (have to see you again), Shark Attack, Six Months in a Leaky Boat?  But, perhaps you won’t, the same as your not loving the first boy that I ever loved.  That’s the point, right?  You might not love those songs or him the way I did, because you are not me.  Trixie wouldn’t have liked that boy at all.  Nonnie would have asked me “Girl!  What are you thinking?”  But as for the book club, the spaces between our choices were like canyons.  At first it was quirky and fun, then it became tough for me to enjoy.  As much as I was in love with the idea of it, the reality left me on the roadside early on.  I suspect I was not alone.  It is truly a shame.  Perhaps if the book I was most looking forward to had not been 18 month out on the list . . .  *sigh* 

But, this weekend I read a most beautiful book, so beautiful that I want you to read it.  I really hope you will, you can even borrow my copy . . .  No!  Really!  Love Is A Mix Tape, by Rob Sheffield.  It was a Christmas gift from Janet.  It perfectly summed up these feelings of separation that I have when trying to get Trixie to listen to a favorite cd of mine.  Or when she is trying to tell me about a book.  The separation you feel, that sense of a distance between yourself and that other, which is not altogether unhealthy, but is that cock your head to one side and wonder “what are they talking about?” sort of feeling.  The feeling is the one that mirrors that deep love we find for those who share our love for that one book or that one song that moves us.  Because they get it, they get us.  It’s the cock your head to the other side and wonder “how did they know?” feeling.  And if we are really really lucky, like god has smiled on us and the universe has aligned for us, we find the person that shares more than just one book and one song with us, they share all of them (or love us enough to pretend that they love them all).  This book is a perfect broken heart song for someone who got that lucky. 

If you are someone who has ever taken a road trip with me and not wanted to kill me for my split personality music choices, you should pick up this book and read it.  I read it straight through, literally could not put it down.  And as achingly sad as it is, it is also brilliant and beautiful, and worth at least one afternoon of your time.  I don’t think it will take two afternoons.  If you love it like I did.  It left me with that feeling you have when you run into an old friend and end up in some bar or coffee house talking straight through the night.  Exhausted and elated, both charmed by the moment and saddened by it.  But definitely glad to have had the moment, for certain.  The only thing that could have made me love this book more, is if it had come with copies of the mix tapes that lead in each chapter. 

 Trust me . . . 

January 07, 2008 @ 07:32

Monday, January 7th 2008

Mileage:  4

Number of Crunches: 200

Hours of Other Fitness Activities: 0 - boo me! 

Pounds Lost: 1

Last week was tough.  There is officially no more junk in the house from Christmas.  But our schedule is still crazy.  And there was no Bear in the house, either.  We have not been sleeping well.  The longer Bear is away, the more restless in his sleep Puppy becomes.  I am glad that Bear got to visit his grandparents in North Carolina this Christmas.  I’m glad of every bit of family that he has.  You can never have enough people that love you unconditionally . . .  well, mostly unconditionally, anyway.  But mostly I’m just glad that he came home today from his long holiday visit.  Puppy hates it when Bear is gone.  “Mommy, where’s Bear?”  “We can’t go home without Bear.”  “How will we ever get Bear back, Mommy?”  That one broke my heart!  The last three or four nights he’s been so restless that I’ve watched as much wee hours TV as I did when I was third trimester pregnant and couldn’t fall asleep because of all the urgent running to the bathroom.  Untwisting his little flannel Spiderman jammies, tucking his head under my chin and rubbing his little back, chanting “Mommy’s here.” over and over until he’d settle back into sleep.  This morning when Bear came through the door, it was like flipping a light switch.  Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of last week we had major issues about going back to school.  Partly I’m sure because of all the holiday disruptions, but also because it just didn’t seem right without Bear.  I found him in Bear’s room several times making sure I wasn’t wrong.  Maybe he’s just behind this door, or hiding under his covers, or in these shoes, maybe I’ll just test out the new art supplies he got for Christmas while I wait?  Oh, crap!  Here comes MOM!  Every afternoon when we come home without Bear, he asks, “Mommy, where’s Bear?”  But today, Puppy is heading off to school happily, because his world is back in place.  Mine, too. 

January 02, 2008 @ 18:39

Trixie is inspired and motivated by Bob at http://dabigleap.wordpress.com/2008/01/02/199975-to-go/
And deservedly so, he’s absolutely inspiring.  I also read his entries with a bit of jealousy, which I believe is good for the soul in moderation.  Even at the moment as he’s recovering from a serious injury, he’s got grit.  His 1,000 miles, which has been bumped to 2,000 miles, is Trixie’s goal for 2008.  I’m afraid of carved in stone numbers.  I never say I’m going to lose 50 pounds, or I’m going to add X amount of dollars to my savings account.  I don’t follow strict diets.  I get obsessed and squirrely, two weeks into the strict plan, I’m not a fun person to hang out with.  Trust me.  BUT!  I do make resolutions and I have chosen mine for 2008.  And it’s admittedly got a carved in stone number.  It also happens to coincide with my planned 40th birthday present to myself.  I’ve got 389 days left in my thirties, so I want to get back on track and before my thirties are all gone, run a 10k.  I’ve put myself back on the Monday Stats plan, I’ve been dejunkfooding the house.  Sorry, Bear, sorry Puppy.  I somehow managed to lose 3 pounds over the Christmas holiday . . .  Perhaps a pound of that was cutting off my hair on Christmas morning.  The boys alternate years and this was my year to have Christmas day without them.  Perhaps on the next one I should arrange for some supervision?  You know I’ve always said that I need a keeper.  But, Trixie swears it’s cute, so I can admit that “I meant to do that!”  There was no wine involved . . .  no . . .  really . . . 

As I made my last grocery shopping trip, I tried in my mind to go back to this time last year, when everything was going so well, I was running and eating healthy.  As healthy as I did when I was pregnant with Bear.  The perfect pregnancy, my cravings were lean meat and fresh fruit.  I found it hard to slip back into that mode, but I stayed off the inner aisles, shopped the outer circle, the fresh stuff.  The last two mornings I’ve had a slice of whole grain bread toasted with a tablespoon of organic peanut butter and half of a banana for breakfast.  I’ve been replacing the cop out “I’m busy” excuses and the fast food.  And I’ve felt better than I have for the last four months.  Dano assures us that when you fall off the fitness wagon, just climb back up as soon as you can.  It’ll come back quicker than you think.  And just two weeks back to really making changes, I feel like a million bucks.  Spent a great afternoon walk with Light Size and hope we’ll do that regularly as I build the strength up and the booty size down.  Trixie and I also spent last night at my house watching the premiere of the new season of Biggest Loser.  I’ve already picked favorites and least favorites and am excited to watch the story unfold.  I have to say that as mercenary and icky as the rest of NBC’s treatement of it has been, the series has continued to not let me down.  I love the spirit of the series and the way they have been so good to avoid the exploitative pitfalls of reality TV.  It’s a shame that NBC’s “caring for the health of America” has been overridden by it’s greed.  Wouldn’t it be great if the network was more interested in helping American’s instead of squeezing every penny out of them that they can?  But don’t let me turn all negative here.  It’s a happy week. 

So here are the efforts we made for the New Year’s Eve party and New Year’s Day dinner that were good for us.  Hope you enjoy them! 

Greek Style Meatballs

2 lbs. ground turkey
1 tablespoon minced garlic
2 tablespoons minced onion
2 tablespoons Cavender’s Greek Seasoning Mix
1/2 cup plain bread crumbs
2 eggs

Thoroughly combine all ingredients.  I prefer to use the paddle on my stand mixer.  It works the ingredients into one another very thoroughly and helps achieve that very smooth texture that Gyros are famous for.  Roll into balls and place individually into nonstick sprayed mini muffin cups.  Keep a bowl of water to moisten hands to prevent sticking as you form the balls.  Bake at 375 degrees until edges are brginning to carmelize and brown to your liking.  Serve with Tzatziki.  You can also go the extra mile and serve them topped with a tiny grape tomato or a tiny tomato slice skewered onto a party pic. 

“Only have five minutes ‘til the guests arrive” Tzatziki

1 cucumber peeled and chopped finely
1/2 cup plain yogurt
1 teaspoon minced garlic
2 teaspoons dill weed

Drain the cucumber if you’ve chopped it so finely that it’s a mushy watery mess.  I’ve done it myself.  Mix all ingredients and serve with Greek Style Meatballs. 

Low Fat High Expectations Crockpot Chili

2 lbs. ground turkey
2 tablespoons minced garlic
1 can chopped green chilies
2 packages chili seasoning
2 cans red beans
2 small cans tomato paste
1 large can peeled and diced tomatoes
4 cups 99% fat free beef stock
2 cups water

Brown ground turkey until all pink is gone.  Add garlic, green chilies, chili seasoning and cook until spices have thoroughly coated the turkey.  Put turkey mixture, beans, tomato paste into crock pot and stir until tomato paste is thoroughly combined.  Add diced tomatoes, beef stock, and water.  Stir to combine.  Cook on low for 4 to 6 hours, stirring occasionally and checking the moisture level at least every half hour after the first 3 hours of cooking time, or cook on high for 1 1/2 hours before serving. 

Perfect in One Hour Veggie Soup

2 to 3 tablespoons olive oil
6 large white mushrooms, sliced in 1/4 inch slices
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1/2 teaspoon salt
15 to 20 fresh green beans, cut into 1 to 2 inch pieces
1 head of cabbage shredded into strips about 1/2 inch wide
1 can of Mild Rotell diced tomatoes and green chilies
3 cups 99% fat free chicken or vegetable stock
3 cups water

salt and pepper to taste

In the bottom of a large stock pot, heat olive oil.  Add mushrooms and cook over medium high heat until browned and well caramelized.  Add garlic, salt and green beans.  Continue to stir, reducing heat to medium, until green beans begin to soften slightly.  Add 1/2 of the shredded cabbage and cook, stirring frequently until cabbage begins to wilt and become translucent.  Add remaining half of cabbage and cook another minute or two.  Add Rotell, stock and water and cook covered for 30 to 45 minutes.