A Sensible Dinner - Pearlieq's Journal

[Strings]

HI Pearlie,

I understand about slumps. You will break out of this. Put yourself first. Wear lipstick. I promise that you will feel better with lipstick on. A night out with the girls will also help.

I am sorry to hear about your furbaby. It is so difficult when they can't tell you what is wrong. As for your hubby, mine can be the same way. Our sticking point is dishes. Of course, it is a wonderful thing your DH is doing for the refugees. I hope you guys can work out a compromse.

Take care,
Beth

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Pearlieq!!!

I hope that your keeping your chin up even though things are dragging you down! Don't forget Dory's motto that many peeps on here know well, Just keep swimming! Bumps & rough currents are gonna try to make you sink but you can do it! I agree with Cam about trying to find something to get you busy instead of bored. I know that advice like this can be kinda grating when you're feeling low so I hope you know it comes from a caring place!

I hope that the furbaby turns out to be ok too! Love your ADRs for your trip! Your hitting many of the places I will be hitting in April, but not December. hehe!

Take care of yourself and have a great night!
Mike

 

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

I hope your day got much better yesterday. Sorry to hear about the frustrations with your DH. The same thing happens here. Everytime my DH tells me not to take on anymore as I am already very busy, he then turns around the next day and gives me more. I also refuse to do certain chores, knowing that when I do, he will always expect me to do them. I honestly think that DH's don't really think about all those things they "delegate" to us and surely don't realize how it really affects us. At least mine doesn't.

Here's WISHing you a happy and healthy day today!

 

[pearlieq]

9/8/05

8:30am

--1 SB bar
--1 1/2 cups raisin bran crunch
--2/3 cup 1% milk

A little carby on the breakfast, but it should hold me until lunch. That's the goal for today--to stick to meals rather than willy-nilly uncontrolled eating!

Diana is liberated! I was able to let her out this morning around 6:30 and she seems none the worse for wear. I did feel bad for her, but I almost think she didn't mind the break from her brother.

I'm feeling pretty good today. As soon as I finish here I'm going to drop the sample by the vet, get gas, and hit Curves. The exercise will feel good. I'm watching my neighbor's kids this evening which will be lots of fun and will keep me busy.

12:20

--2 boca burgers
--2 light buns
--2 slices 2% American cheese
--2 plums
--handful cherry tomatoes
--2 T hummus

Well, I didn't quite make it to Curves. I just really didn't want to go. I got as far as the gas station across the street and when leaving the station I unconsiously turned toward home, not Curves. So, I took it as a sign, came home and went for a walk instead. DH and I have got to get up to the new health club to join as well. It will be nice to have the option of taking a class or lifting weights.

I'm going over to my neighbor's at 3pm and I'll be there until at least 10, so I'm going to pack up a little lunch bag to take with me. I'm going to take a Pad Thai bowl w/some extra peas, a yogurt, and some raw veggies w/salad dressing. That should get me through the night!

5:30pm

--1 pad thai bowl
--1/2 cup peas
--cucumber slices, baby carrots, tomatoes
--2 T light poppyseed dressing
--2 slices watermelon
--1/2 slice pizza

The kids were reasonably well behaved, though I didn't see much of the older girl as she did her homework at a friend's house and then had soccer practice.

7:45pm

--2 1/2 pieces cheese pizza

I'm starving--actualy stomach-growling starving at this point. I shouldn't have eaten the pizza but I wasn't all that strong at that point.

9:30pm

--2 pieces pizza
--3 granola bars
--1 cereal bar
--1/2" stack pringles
--2 handi-snacks
--1 pkt fruit snacks
--1 cup chocolate ice cream

Well that went downhill fast, didn't it? I used to babysit a lot as a teenager and I'd always have this problem--after the kids went to bed it was just me and someone else's pantry, full of new and tempting treats. I did manage to get myself stopped after this, but this day did not end up well.

 

[toystoryduo]

Good morning pearlieq!

Stopping by to WISH you a wonderful day today! Take care!

 

[Jane E.]

Congrats for getting in that walk today. Glad to hear your kitty was allowed out. Is she feeling better? Apparently, the vet forgot to tell QT to take it easy. She's been jumping on furniture, getting inside the couch & tormenting the dog. I put her back into ds room for another hour. Have fun babysitting - you're a better person than me. Nothing I hate more than watching kids! That will definately keep you busy!

 

[Strings]

Hi Pearlie,

I am glad your kitty is doing better. Great job getting in the walk. Have a great weekend,
Beth

 

[pearlieq]

9/9/05

8:00am

--2 cups raisin bran crunch
--1/2 cup 1%milk

Well I didn't get home until after midnight last night, so I didn't see much of DH or the kitties but DH woke up at about 2 am coughing and sputtering and trying to catch his breath. He's done this a few times before and it always scares the stuffing out of me! I thought it was reflux, but he insisted it wasn't and said his throat hurt and had been all day. Great. He does this all the time. He overworks himself, doesn't get enough sleep, doesn't eat during the day, when he does eat he doesn't eat well, and his immune system crashes and he picks up the first available bug and brings it home. This drives me nuts--I'm sure it's not cool to say "hey, I'm diabetic and I need to take a quick break to eat something so my blood sugar stays stable" but it would go a long way to keep him from picking up the disease of the week!

It took a while to get us both settled back down to sleep but so far I don't feel all that groggy. I may be going up to his work to start helping out in the donation center--that would be pretty cool!

11:45am

--potato chips
--2 frosted sugar cookies
--1 pkt peanut butter crackers

Just call this the "vegetarian special". This is all I can eat of what's available. I'm up at DH's work, sorting clothing donations. There is so much to go through--the warehouse is about half full. I'll admit, some of the things donated have made me scratch my head. While I do appreciate people's desire to give, I'm not really sure we can use stained skivvies. Yes, this is what I'm sorting through. Thank goodness for gloves!

2:00pm-6:30pm

--3 small cheese enchiladas w/sour cream
--1/3 cup rice
--more chips
--2 more cookies
--2 bottles juice

I found a little Mexican grocery near the donation center and was able to get some cheese enchiladas. I was all excited because the little hole in the wall places usually produce amazing food but these were just...OK. It felt good to eat something more substantial. The rest was just unnecessary noshing. The good thing was that I got tons of exercise between sorting things, lifing bags, and carrying things. It was a workout!

We're absolutely innundated--things just kept coming in during the day and I found out that there are 3 other warehouses full! I'm going to be working every day this weekend so hopefully we'll make a dent. It's been interesting work--very interesting to see what people have seen fit to donate. I must admit getting a visit from the baby bug while I was sorting and folding all those cute little baby clothes!

8:00pm

--2 chick'n patties
--2 light buns
--1 nsa applesauce cup
--1 large handful carrots
--1/4 cup hummus

We talked about heading to a restaurant after we finished, but neither of us were really jonesing to go anywhere, so I figured we should just save the money and calories and eat in. I'm really happy with the way we're kicking the restaurant habit--I'm really noticing a difference in our finances and I think it's helping keep both of our weights from spiraling out of control!

Time to head upstairs--we'll probably watch a little TV then sleep like the dead!

 

[Lesli54]

Good afternoon, Pearlieq!

Sorry to hear that your DH isn't feeling well. Stubborn diabetics are a handful......ask my DH, it was his pete peve with his dad. Hopefully, your DH will feel better soon.

It must feel good to stay busy today, however, I am not sure that finding undies would be my ideal of fun. I guess at least the thought is there, right?

Hope the rest of your day goes well.

 

[Mykelogan]

Hi Pearlieq,

So cool that you are helping out at the donation center! And I nearly pee'd my own skivies when I saw your description of the stained donations! lol hehe

Hope that your DH feels better and that you have a happy & healthy night!
Mike

 

[Cruise04]

So glad to hear that you are helping out sorting clothing and helping at your dh's work - that must be an awesome feeling knowing that all that is going someplace that it will truly be needed and used. And I agree with you about what people think is good to donate. When we had our Habitat garage sale I was just puzzled at some of the stuff people brought in - broken items, torn clothing, pee smelling clothing and bedding (sorry if TMI) - just amazing at some of the stuff.

Keep up the good work and tell your dh to keep it up too. Let me know if there is an upcoming evening that they might need some volunteers to help - I'd be willing to drive over and get dd there to do some community service hours if we are free.

Keep on
Chris

 

[pearlieq]

9/10/05 - Weigh In

318.0 - Up 3lbs from last week

Ugh, two steps forward one step back! I shouldn't complain though, it should have been a lot worse after this week's festivities.

Goals for next week:

1.) Exercise - I got 2 workouts in last week, but missed the 2 Curves workouts. This week I'm shooting for 3 workouts with 1 at Curves. Luckily I'll be busy in the donation center which is pretty good exercise.

2.) Meals - I need to eat real, recognizable, balanced meals, not just chains of snacks!

 

[pearlieq]

9/10/05

7:30am

--1 egg beater
--1 slice 2% American cheese
--1 light english muffin
--1 sm apple

9:00am

--1 mini bagel w/strawberry cream cheese

11:00am

--1 mini bagel w/strawberry cream cheese
--1 mini baby ruth

11:30am

--1 chocolate raised doughnut

1:30pm

--5 squares cheese pizza
--1 Dr Pepper
--1/2 Snickers bar

3:30pm

--3 squares cheese pizza
--1 Coke
--1 mini baby ruth

7:00pm

--1 small cheese popover roll
--1 serving angel hair pasta with tomatoes, garlic, and olive oil
--1 sm piece garlic bread

11:30pm

--2 chick'n patties
--2 light buns

Yikes! I really did eat a lot of crap at the donation center, didn't I? I can't believe I had real soda. Sadly, it was a wonderful as I remember!!! The upside is I was running around the whole time, so it was a serious workout. Being the only one with experience, I was the de facto leader of the project which I wasn't thrilled with, but I didn't have much choice. Strangest item donated today: A collage of photos from someone's high school years in the mid-90's. Just the object to bring comfort to the displaced...

We went to dinner with some friends of ours tonight. It was a pretty good night. We had a nice dinner at local restaurant, but we spent the entire meal talking about the relief efforts, including some of the not-so-pretty parts of the government wrangling. It was kind of depressing.

I had an interesting moment before the show. I had visited the ladies room and I got a good look at myself in the mirror. I was wearing dark denim low-rise, boot cut jeans that lay very well on me and a black top with a pretty deep v-neck lined in black lace. We had ridden in our friend's convertable so my hair was wavy and windblown and I had a really nice cranberry lip gloss on and I actually thought I looked good--which is unusual for me. I usually think I look "fine" which means hair is reasonably neat, my face is clean, and there are no major flaws on my clothes and they at least sorta match. I don't usually work all that hard on my looks--it's never been that important to me. It was just strange to look in the mirror and actually be kind of impressed and appreciative of what I saw. It felt nice.

We then went on the Second City show. I was really worried because of how amateurish it was last time, but this show was a riot! It was a new group and new material and it was hysterically funny! Of course, on the way out, the husband of the other couple feels the need to point out that a few of the sketches did drag on a little long or lose their footing. It was true, but it seemed overly negative to focus on the 5% of the show that didn't work when 95% of it was top notch! I suppose it was just an offhand comment but it really rubbed me the wrong way. I don't know why I'm stuck on it, but it left a bad taste in my mouth. Something seemed "off" about the husband for most of the night, but I still had a good time, so I guess I'll stop dwelling on it and get to bed!!!

 

[pearlieq]

9/11/05 - We will never forget

8:00am

--1 cup lowfat yogurt

I'm grabbing a little something before heading back out to the donation center. I have this feeling I'm going to be in charge again and I really don't want to, but if it needs to be done I'll do it, I guess. At least I learned more about what work and what doesn't from being there yesterday.

My goals for being there are as follows: no more than 2 mini bagels for morning snacks, no doughnuts, no pastries. No more sugar pop!!! It was fun yesterday, but I won't do it again. One Gatorade is OK, but after that diet soda or preferably water. No more than 2 fun size candies or one regular size candy bar. No potato chips. If a veggie-friendly meal is not provided, I will run out get something decent. No making a "meal" out of chips and cookies. It shouldn't be hard to stay active, I just have to remind myself to stay clear of the snack table.

10:00am

--1 mini wheat bagel, 1/2 with peanut butter and 1/2 with strawberry cream cheese

1:30pm

--1/2 asian salad
--1 cup tomato lentil soup
--3" section sourdough baguette

3:00pm

--1 large blueberry muffin
--1/2 cup chex mix
--1 large gatorade

4:30pm

--1 chocolate raised doughnut
--1/4 chocolate cake doughnut
--1 glazed doughnut
--1/2 cup chex mix

Good Lord I think that's it. I hung on until the afternoon and then a combination of doughut availability and stress got to me. I could have been much worse, but I'm still disappointed in myself. Ugh!

Head Scratcher of the day: Someone donated a 1983 Rand McNally Road Atlas. Uh, thanks!

Since I've been working at the donation center since Friday they've made me "in charge" of the clothing sorting operation. I don't want to be in charge!!! I'm not an employee, I'm not an official member of their emergency management volunteer group, and I have no training in disaster relief. I'm just married to your IT guy!!! I just want to sit at my table and sort through donations. Since no one else was there, though, I did the best I could. The emergency management people were kind of brusque and kept changing the plan every 2 minutes. Plus, I was responsible for all of the other volunteers. I don't mind getting everyone started and being a point person to answer questions, but I didn't really want to hear everyone's opinions, problems, and complaints!

Most of the people were really great, but I just wasn't looking to have that kind of responsibility dumped on me by default. I suppose everyone's just doing the best they can to manage, but it was very uncomfortable for me. I'm not sure I'm happy with that that says about me, but I do know that the gut feeling associated with is was not pleasant! I'm better as a worker bee and the answer geek than the leader.

It has been nice to be at work with DH though. Even though he's been in and out, I like sharing in his world and being part of what he's doing.

8:00pm

--2 veggie burgers
--2 light buns
--2 pieces 2% cheese
--light ranch dip
--baked totilla chips

I keep thinking I should be concerned that so many of my meals come in bun form these days, but there's really nothing wrong with them. The veggie burgers are low cal and plenty nutritious and the light buns are also low cal, fortified, and include plenty of fiber. It's actually a great meal, I guess we're just conditioned to think of "burgers" as junk food.

10:30pm

--1 carton chocolate fudge brownie ice cream
--raspberry sauce

Oh my goodness this shocked me! I totally didn't mean to eat the entire carton! I was desperately craving it (hello, TOM!) and DH brought it home for me and it was all soft from the ride home. I dug right into the carton (big mistake) and chatted with DH while I was eating and all of the sudden my spoon hit bottom! Big oops!!! I need to institute a firm bowl-only rule for ice cream!

 

[goldcupmom]

Congrats on the mirror liking you!

Working at the donation center sounds busy, but rewarding.

Hope you are having a good day. I like your 'snack' plan.

 

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

Looks like you are having fun staying busy. As far as 2 steps forward and 1 step back, look at it this way, the net is still 1 step forwards so you are still moving in the right direction. But I do know what you mean. I am up a little also. The "chains of snacks" have been happening here as well for a variety of reasons and I need to get back to real food. Let's say we do it together and keep on moving forward.

Have fun helping out today and good luck keeping the evil snacks at bay.


*****added*****

I did forget to mention........It is soooooooo AWESOME that you had a great mirror experience. Those chance glances at a person you don't recognize but wouldn't mind getting to know are really great. And then when you realize it is yourself, it is even better. Really makes the challenge even more worth it.

 

[pearlieq]

9/12/05

Well, this story has come to it's inevitable conclusion. I'm sick. Thanks, DH!!! It's not so bad yet--it just feels like a garden-variety cold, but I still would have preferred to skip it!

9:45am

--2 boca burgers (for my own record-keeping purposes, I'm going to assume that unless otherwise stated a "boca burger" equals a patty, light bun, and piece of 2% cheese. Saves me the trouble of writing it out each time!)
--light ranch dip
--baked tortilla chips

I'm starting to make some progress around the house and to get a bunch of little chores done. I've got to go grocery shopping today, but I'm not quite sure how that's going to work out since I need to get an object on sale at another store away from my regular stores. I think this might but a multi-day project with Dominicks/Jewel today and Aldi/Cub tomorrow. At least that would make it two streamlined trips! The sale at Cub is worth making the extra trip.

1:00pm

--1 bowl Raisin Bran crunch
--1 string cheese
--1 nsa applesauce

It seems I've reversed breakfast and lunch today! I got my shopping list and coupons together and I'm going to Jewel/Dominicks/Aldi today and save Cub for tomorrow

5:00pm

--1 can barbecue Pringles
--5 mini Milky Way

At the risk of understating the situation, I'm having a little problem with portion control lately. I got very hungry while shopping and these snuck themselves in the cart, and then when I got home I started munching and the next thing I knew they were gone. I will give myself credit for 2 things--first, I at least attempted to put a serving of Pringles on a plate to enjoy. The problem with that was that the can comes with this neat resealable lid and when you pull it off and turn the can upside down more chips come out. I'll have to work on that...

The only other thing I've got going for me is that at least I didn't eat the other 5 Milky Ways. I'll take my "victories" where I can get them, I guess.

8:00pm

--1/2 cheese pizza
--more chips

10:00pm

--more brownie ice cream

A fitting end to a banner day!

 

[Lesli54]

Good morning, Pearlieq!

Too bad you aren't feeling well today, I hope that changes soon. I don't think that not wanting to take charge and disliking the fact that you were put in that position says anything bad about you. It just so happens that you know where you are most comfortable and the fact that you don't work there makes things feel more uncomfortable, that is very understandable.

Move on past the ice cream and start today fresh.

Have a great one!

 

[eeyore25]

Hi!!!!

I am so sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. I think it is going around. I too caught a cold, the day we got back from vacation, everyone here at work has a cold! Everyone is sick!

You are doing a great job! Keep up the good work. Take care of yourself so that cold goes away!

 

[toystoryduo]

Hi pearlieq!

I'm sorry to hear that you aren't feeling well. We have a tendency to "share" colds and stuff in my house too. I hope you feel better soon!

Hope you have a great Monday!