Fabulous at 51 and Beyond !!!

[LegalBeagle]

When you are used to eating your stress and worries, it just happens. It sounds like you have a good plan for eating clean today, though. Stay strong! Hope DSS feels better soon. It STINKS to have sick kids.

[anneg1116]

OMG - no school on your town today!! Holy cow! That's a sure sign it must be bad since you guys NEVER have snow days. Ever. I mean, it's what you're famous for!

[fab50]

So, after the big stuff with his mom, and his illness which ended up being an ear infection plus major upper respiratory, DSS took off for California tonight.

Then DH and I went out to dinner. Indian, not the beachiest, but I had really good lentil soup, we shared a couple of vegetarian main dishes, and I had too much rice and bread. Stayed away from the deep fried appetizers which I love.

I'm home while DH stops back at his office. I'm tired, which is typical for Fri. night. Looking forward to a kid-free week. Not a lot of plans, but I'm sure we'll keep busy.

[fab50]

So, now that DSS is gone, it's my turn to be sick.

I was feeling really lousy yesterday -- sore throat, congested, achy, and dizzy. I slept most of the afternoon, read, and watched TV and movies. I ate pretty normally and beachy through lunch, then didn't have any appetite, until I was suddenly famished at around 8:00. DH made me a cheese omelette, with sliced granny smith apple on the side, which totally hit the spot. I couldn't stomach the thought of animal protein or vegetables.

Today, I'm feeling somewhat better, but I'm staying home. I've got some work to do for a meeting tomorrow, and if my brain is working I may do some work on our taxes. We now have turbotax loaded on the new computer, so we're ready to go.

And....family brag time....my neice just set a new record for her college in the 1000 free!!!! And she's only a freshman!!!! She did it yesterday in the big New England meet for her division!!! Today she swims the mile and 400 IM in the same meet.

[anneg1116]

Sorry to hear that you are not feeling well. Hope it passes soon and that you feel better.

[fab50]

Bro just called. She just broke the school record in the mile!!!! Now she gets her name on the big board at the school twice.

[fab50]

Still feeling kinda sickly, but I've been at work yesterday and today. Luckily, I had some frozen tortilla soup, so I had a good dinner last night without needing to cook.

I'd like to get better, so I can get things done and have fun while DSS is away.

A few good things though --

I've read almost all of my book group book for next week (The Patron Saint of Liars, by Ann Patchett). I like it, but not as much as Bel Canto.

I had a good meeting yesterday about the project I was behind on. Luckily, I got some good data on Friday and worked with it a few hours over the weekend and yesterday, so I didn't go into the meeting empty handed.

I made an appointment with a woman that helps plan independent Israel travel. I'm starting to get more sense of the general shape of the trip, so I can start thinking about specifics. I think it'll be something like: a couple of days with my cousin outside of Tel Aviv, going to Jerusalem for at least one of the days, and maybe Tel Aviv for another, since I lived there for 6 months and volunteered at a hospital there for several weeks. (I'm one of those unusual Americans who feels more at home in Tel Aviv than Jerusalem). Then, a couple of days with my cousins outside of Haifa, doing day trips in the north, and/or maybe staying part of the time at a kibbutz guest house or bed and breakfast. Sometime during this time, I'd love to have DSS meet with amateur radio people in Israel, since it's such a strong interest of his. Then, some sort of slightly off the beaten path travelling in the center or south, possibly with a tour guide for a few days. Then DSS goes with his mom and DH and I spend several days in Jerusalem, with a day trip to Masada, the Dead Sea, and Ein Gedi. It's the last parts of the trip I hope the travel planner will really help with.

It's kind of a challenging trip to plan....I've been there seven times before, including living there for a year, DH has never been, and DSS will be with us for about a week and a half, and then with his mom on an organized trip for another week and a half. Spending time with the cousins is great, but I want to make sure everyone has a good time -- them and us. I'd also like to treat them to anything we do together, but they're understandably proud and it gets a bit uncomfortable. They're middle class, but I know money is tight for both of the families. Before I meet with the trip planner, I want to see if we can get more details on where DSS is going with his mom, so we don't duplicate....unless there are places we really want to go to together. I'm glad I'll be getting some help.

Back to work.

[anneg1116]

Wow - what a great trip you are planning! Going in the summer?

[fab50]

Yes, this summer. DSS is turning 13 in August, so it's a pre-Bar Mitzvah trip. We're doing this coordinated thing with his mother, where he's with us for about 1 1/2 weeks and then with her for about the same amount of time. He arrives with us, and leaves with her. DH and I will stay on for several days alone after DSS is with his mom, and then head home.

I haven't been since 2003, so I'm looking forward to it. My last trip was with a big delegation of people from Boston (like 350 people, including 20+ from my synagogue), in the fall of 2003, after a very difficult summer there. We were one of the first large groups from the states to come when things quieted down. DH is a convert to Judaism and never understood the emotional connection to Israel. His ex had been, but didn't have a strong connection. Since meeting me and my cousins from there, and friends who had lived there or visited several times, and my going without him in 2003, he's had more interest. I really hope he likes it.

[fab50]

I'm still not feeling great. Sore throat, cough, and blocked ears have been hanging on for a week and a half now. I finally went to the doctor today, just in case it was anything other than viral, and got my throat swabbed. But, she's pretty sure it's just viral.

Food hasn't been great. Pretty much the same story for the past month or so -- keeping it beachy during the day, too much snacking at night, and some ventures into real overeating and white carbs.

I did have a productive work week last week, with DSS being away.

Despite being sick, I got most of our taxes done. We met with the photographer who did our wedding, and we're having him do DSS's Bar Mitzvah. We went out to Legal Seafoods for dinner one night, and saw The Last King of Scotland another. We also went to Vermont for the day on Saturday for a family gathering.

DSS came back last night, in pretty good shape. The next couple of weeks he has a lot of school play rehearsals -- he's doing the sound -- and then performances the weekend after next. It's been a good experience for him the past two plays. Hopefully, he'll manage to keep up with his schoolwork during the play, which sometimes has been a challenge. But, being involved in activities with other kids is so important for him.

I'm making chicken breasts with mushrooms and sundried tomatoes, WW couscous, and asparagus for dinner. Right now, the kitchen is being used for homework, so I'm holding off a bit with the cooking.

[anneg1116]

Dinner sounds great!

And I love Legal Seafood. Haven't been there in a while. Don't live close enough to one.

Hope you feel better soon!

[fab50]

Feeling a little better this morning....finally.

Maybe I should post food, in an effort to keep it in line

B: v-8, grande NF Latte, 1/2 cup cottage cheese, TJ's apple bran muffin (80 cals, fruit juice sweetened, whole grain)
S: yogurt
L: leftover chicken w/mushrooms and sundried tomatoes, cous-cous, salad
S: cheese stick
S: humus and celery
D: turkey meatloaf, kale, orange
S: ?

and a bunch of sugar-free cough drops....

[fab50]

I made great stuffed red peppers for dinner last night. Just posted the recipe in the recipe board, if anyone's interested.

Heading off to work.

[fab50]

Very productive morning here...with a little bit of being peeved at other people for what they're not doing.

Got a call from a good friend in California this weekend. It was a good talk, but I was definitely feeling a little depressed and stuck and I think it came across.

Part of it is my food, exercise, and weight slippage, which continues. I'm actually thinking this weekend, when I'm going to Florida to visit mom, will be a good thing in terms of being on track. We'll eat out some, but I always walk and swim when I'm there, and I'm too embarassed to graze much at night. She already asked for a shopping list, so I know there'll be beachy food in the house.

[ladybugnessa]

maybe the trip is what you need.... jump start you back on track?