Back on Track and well over 50

[feminista]

Had some beach vacay--with some sun, some casino, some good food, some not so good. Came back in the torrential rain yesterday (so the trip was longer and more arduous...when it started to really pour, things were flooding). Also came back with a horrible headache--I do not get headaches--so took to bed, and nauseous...I'll leave out the rest of the evenings events....still not 100% today, just sipping on water...but could not stay in bed.
We're supposed to go to Saratoga tomorrow...so I am laying low today...
Hope your week is going well...
ciao

[Chris55]

Hope you're feeling better!!

We got a few days of good rain, finally, which forced me to finally do some inside chores. Moved boxes of homeschool books and made a "staging area" for dorm move-in. Actually washed a few floors, LOL! Also got DS's banking and loans set up.

Spent last night at the Bates Dance Festival with DD, watching emerging choreographers, some from the US and some from abroad - Africa, Thailand. Saw seven pieces, three were good and the rest were awful - Purchase freshman had more interesting work. Ah, well, that's why we paid the big bucks and sent her there.

Today I have my LLBean interview. I'm hoping to piggyback a short seasonal job there onto my United Way job so hopefully I'll be set with full-time income until Christmas. Plus I'm looking forward to their discount - the perks, even for temp people, are outstanding.

Those carbs have reappeared in my menus, but I've been having good whole grain stuff, just a little too much. Made a turkey dinner Wednesday night - the last night everyone was going to be home together - so have been enjoying leftovers. Veggie pick-up today at the Farmer's Market. I'm packing a cooler so I can go straight to my interview from there.

[feminista]

Hi...I must've had a 24 hour thing...
We met our friendsat the Dance Musuem in Saratoga, unfortunately it was closed yesterday...
Yesterday (and today) are one of those top ten days of summer--weather perfect (though even with block on I got a bit burnt), fun day filled with old friends at the track, and then dinner at the Saraotga outpost of one of my favorite restaurants in Albany,Capriccio's, but the service lacked ( sitting at bar waiting for the rest of the group, one firend asked for non-alcoholic, and the bartender just looke at her and pointed around to the bottles and then said "all we have here is alcohol' and the waiter never came back for our dessert orders) and the menu limited (though my pasta calameri neri was very good after I added red pepper flakes).

Chris,hope the LLBean interview goes well.

A few errands to run today and then write write write...have to make up for the 3 days I missed writing...

Food today: fruit and cheese for breakfast, hot dog & salad for lunch, chicken & grilled veggies for dinner...

ciao

[Chris55]

We're supposed to have the gorgeous weather today. So far, so good. Will probably grill something for dinner tonight. Picked up my farm share yesterday, so have lots of different veggies for a salad. I've really been eating too much bread/starch/pasta the last few days and need to cut back.

I'm hired at LLBean, so I start there right after my United Way stint ends. Not crazy about working there again, but it's money and the perks are good. Factory work isn't fun but most of the people doing it are moonlighting and working mostly for the discount, so I'll be in good company. I got a pass to the employee store and ended up with a polar fleece coat, a gore-tex coat for my son, a nice pair of leather shoes, and a pair of pants for $16.50.

Yoga today, maybe a quick swim this afternoon.

[feminista]

Hi, Supposed to go to a pool party later this afternoon, but its very cloudy and the rains are coming....
Made the grilled eggplant salad that was in the NYT Wednesday (grill a large eggplant, when cool, skin and cube it, add a diced plum (I did a Jersey tomato) evoo, red vinegar, kosher salt, fresh oregano & parlsey, bl pepper & capers...thought it needed more so I also added fresh basil, garbonza beans, shallots, red pepper flakes and feta cheese (could also add pasta)....mmm
Blueberry Festival in Ellenville today...but I'll got blberry picking when I go to visit J&D in the Berks in 2 weeks. Aarghhhh that means classes are starting 2 weeks from Monday!!!!!! Gotta make a huge writing push!
Congrats on both jobs--they have different, but important perks for you!
Nose to the grind stone time for a couple of hours before party...
ciao

[feminista]

Just back from brunch--too bad its drizzling & humid, would have loved to have had it outside...had the fish tacos minus the tacos...yummm and a very hot bloody mary (made with jalepeno juice!).

Will use the grill pan this evening for grilled chicken and veggies...(which will prob be a later dinner than expected, I forgot to take the chicken out if the freezer).

Chris, yiu must be getting ready to pack Youngest DS off ... if you want here is my school e-mail, use it and I will give you my cell phone number if you or he need (ja.myers@marist.edu)

ciao

[Chris55]

Lots on my mind this week - the countdown. I'm going over lists, packing stuff, buying stuff, getting bank accounts set up, all that fun stuff. We drive down next Sunday to NJ, stay overnight with family, then drive back up to NP early Monday so he can get first dibs on a decent bed in a forced triple. Ugh! Still hoping roommate #3 fails to materialize - no info on him yet, but roommate #2 seems like a good match so far. Thanks for the offer of help, but I'm sure he'll be fine. Most of the staff have been pretty helpful, and he's already met the prof in charge of Asian Studies - nice guy. Plus I have a wonderful sister on LI who is fairy godmother to all the children in the family. She has no kids herself, but is more than willing to drive long distances to entertain lonely college kids or any extended family flying through JFK and wanting to see NYC. I'm going to put her in charge of the Jewish holidays, I'm thinking.

Darling daughter is also trying to get stuff ready for her trip - she leaves on the 26th for NY, Seattle, Sydney, and too many other places to list. She's still getting visas, settling loan issues, and generally driving me out of my mind. The girl can't understand why businesses aren't open on Saturday afternoons and Sundays (embassies! banks!). She's working 8+ shifts a week and is off with her latest love interest the rest of the time. Poor boy - he's smitten. She blows through the house daily to shower, see if we have any interesting food, and vent whatever frustrations/drama she's experiencing. Not my idea of quality time.

Have been eating lots of veggies, but lots of bread, too. DS brought home a fresh crunchy loaf of rosemary bread yesterday, which I dug into despite making a ww veggie/pesto pizza for myself last night. Tonight will be salmon, broccoli, and some kind of starch for the guys - maybe soba with dipping sauce. Gray and dreary here all day, rain is holding off for now.

Tomorrow I probably need to have my tire repaired. Took DS to work this morning and one of the other employees pointed out that my tire was close to flat. DH pumped it up, but it's got a slow leak. Add that to my list - still trying to straighten out car insurance from the latest used car purchase - Allstate's weekend people screwed up and I'm not sure the car is actually covered.

At least I get two days to recover after my daughter leaves. United Way starts full-tilt on the 29th. I feel like I haven't had a summer. Three trips to the ocean, clouds rolled in for two of them. Kayaking once. No camping, no picnics, but I did enjoy my deck, my wine, and my ice cream!

[feminista]

Chris, glad that your sister is on call ... sounds like your house is in perpetual motion! I am amazed how time has flown by this summer...I have to go through my clothes and organize my "school clothes"--I have basically worn capris & tees & flip flops all summer-- not quite classroom appropriate wear. Think I'll put that on my calendar for after a board meeting this saturday....
Its need- lights- on-inside- dark and rainy today --yesterday it fluctuated between steady drizzle and torrential downpour. Slugs are out in force! Yuck, I have to buy some cheap beer for them....
Ended up making chicken piccata over zuke pasta last night (that julienne peeler is a wonderful tool). Enough leftover chicken that tonight I will just make some broc to go with it...fruit & cheese for breakfast, hummus & salad for lunch, the usual snacks...
To write....
ciao

[Chris55]

Got my tire fixed in about 10 minutes this morning, straightened out car insurance, getting stuff organized for DS. Breakfast was a veggie omelet followed by banana and yogurt, plus some almonds. Time for lunch soon, possibly eggplant w/feta and tomatoes, but may save that to go with grill-pan chicken tenders tonight. Still waiting for the rain. For now, just grey, breezy, and clammy. Yuck! Will do a quick farmer's market run when they open at 3 for some greens and more tomatoes - can't have too many of those!

I need to go through my "work" clothes, getting a few outfits together for United Way. I have 3 neutral pairs of pants, lots of jackets, not many blouses right now so may need to pick up one or two more to get me through the 11 weeks. At LLBean they don't care if I come in with pajamas, as long as I have closed shoes on my feet! I'd like to do one more trip to the employee store this week and see what I can find. I'll be able to shop there when I start working for them again, but my pass is good until the end of August, so can't pass that up while the selection is good.

[feminista]

Hi Chris (and lurkers)
Another wet morning here...unfortunately because laundry has to be done to fit all our schedules/needs,so the dining room will look like a french laundry.
That pass is quite a perk, Chris...and their women's clothes are not all that square boxy cut anymore... when I was a kid we would make a pilgramage to the Bass outlet for (weejuns) loafers and to LL Bean for sweaters before school started (and for some reason it seemed like it was always on a rainy day)...and go to the Keds outlet in Lynn (?) near my grandparents (Mass. northshore).
I had fruit and cheese for breakfast, hot dog & salad for lunch, and Evan (he loves to help "make food" ) has requested we make pizza for dinner, so loaded pizza and salad it is...
I have an early morning (8 a.m.) meeting tomorrow, then I'll hit Marist for a bit...LK & Evan are going blueberry picking (which I will also do when I am in the Berks the end of next week). We are cramming a lot in in the next 2 weeks before school starts...
So, have a good day...off to write (in between loads)
ciao

[Chris55]

Not sure where yesterday went - dreary rainy day. Went and tried on shoes with DS so I know what size to buy him at Bean's when I got tomorrow - shoes are $7 at the e-store, boots are $12. Actually finally got him to pack up some books and desk stuff. Slowly but surely it's all getting done. He had his last night of work, so now we can hang out and relax a bit. Today is supposed to be hot and gorgeous, but DD needs the car to dance in Portland, so we're all going. She can dance, DS and I can hit Target and his favorite music store for a fond farewell. The beach/lake will have to wait for this afternoon. I was hoping to spend an entire day at the lake but that's not happening. The rest of the week is supposed to be "unsettled" - i.e. they have no idea when or where it will rain, but it will rain somewhere in our large state!

Food hasn't been great. Munching on crackers and cookies in addition to the ice cream. I may do a quick Sam's Club run today for lf cheeses and a few other items. Roast beef with mashed potatoes tonight (DS's last week of real homemade food!).

Today's other project is straightening out DS's class registration. They screwed him up at orientation - last group to register, didn't have him pre-registered for his 2 freshman "FIG" classes that he chose. Anyhow, between that and a few other things, I e-mailed a rant to admissions/advising and finally got a response, so today they promised to work with him to get his schedule to where he'll be happier. He's taking too much fluff, so hoping to just exchange one of his arts classes for a science or something a bit meatier. It would be nice if they could do that for him before classes start so he knows what he's doing.

[feminista]

Hi..started out t-storm rainy but nowthe sun just came out--so hot and steamy...celebrated LX's bd early --at the last minute, she wanted to eat her fav foods--broc and pasta with sundaes for dessert (because her friends were coming over--swear they used every glass in the house!). Tomorrow she & gang go to Long beach Island , then she and Jess (her bff) will meet us for 3 more days of beach...the guys have to go back to work...she is very excited about this vacay...prob because its her 21st b.d., her first good group of adult friends (she did have what we called the gang o four friends from 1st grade through 9th grade, but then that broke up when one set of parents sent their daughter to a day school, another to boarding school, and the 3rd moved back to NH) and its her real first week vacay from work.
Today will be eggs, cheese and tomato for breakfast, prob a tom. sandwich for lunch and zuchini pasta with a lemon sauce and chicken for dinner (but it might be only me)...LK will be in CT tonight--meeting old friends, she'll stay over I am sure...and Thursday nights is a big nite on the Kingston scene, so the gang meet here & wall to the clubs, and then turn LX's room into a dorm...
Printed out most of my manuscript yesterday so I can proof read it the old fashioned way...its a bit longer than I expected--250 pages with out the extensive bibliography (last one was 50 pages) and the introductory chapter (which will be around 50 pages) (this is a secondary reference book).

Chris, enjoy the last few days of having the family together...will you and Hubby have a day together before you start work? BTW how's your leg?

So, off I go to edit/write... ciao

[Chris55]

Glad you're to the editing point with your manuscript. I like to proofread the old fashioned way, too. Computers are wonderful, but I don't like to read things on them.

Today it was really foggy in the morning, so did another visit to the Bean employee store - got a new winter coat, pants for me, turtlenecks for DS, but no shoes in his size . I'm sure I'll find some once I start working, but will have to mail them. I went on a hike with both boys, straight wide path, but hilly, sat by the river for a while and walked back. Then did a quick swim and saw 3 loons. Worth the trip to the lake! Tomorrow we go to the lighthouse and a few other of his fave places.

So, I finally exercised. My leg was better, but I'll probably need some ibuprofen or aspirin tonight! Food has been as good as I can make it - celebration meals are not SB friendly! Having lots of veggies, though!

[Chris55]

Countdown to New Paltz. Spent the afternoon with son and daughter yesterday hanging out on the rocks at the lighthouse, having a shrimp roll by the water (sprang for lobster rolls for them - that way I don't have to cook them tonight and can make an easier last meal at home!), went to our favorite salt pond and watched them hunt for crabs, then to the penny candy store. A fun afternoon. Then BBQ steak on the deck for dinner, but DS was upset because I overcooked them - pink, not red. Guess the fire was too hot. The kid is a serious carnivore.

Today is pack the car day. DH will probably vacuum and wash it, as he does before every trip - a bad gene he inherited from his dad! Got our NY EZ Passes yesterday, just in time. We talked about getting them when DD went off to Purchase, but now we really need them between the Mass Pike and the Thruway for each trip - makes it worthwhile. The Maine one charges for the transmitters and the discount doesn't amount to very much here, so we did the NY one online. The Mass Pike toll booths are always a bottleneck, so it will be nice to get through faster.

I have a request for BBQ chicken and corn tonight - not sure if the weather will cooperate. Making myself comfort breakfast - one slice bacon, one egg, raisin toast. No sense in trying to get back on track right now. When I'm strict I end up with a package of crackers or cookies in my lap later in the day - stress eating has reared its ugly head.

[Chris55]

We survived move-in day. Very glad we got there early since downtown was a complete bottleneck by noon. DS is settling in- has to share a bunk bed. Thought we'd be early enough to get the solo bed in his forced triple, but his roommate went on the freshman campout and checked in on Friday. Not much space, so not sure how territorial it will get. Hopefully one of the others will move out since DS can't without a lot of help.

So eating was very crazy and sporadic this weekend, pizza in NP (Rocco's is the best out of 3 we've tried so far!), pub food on the way down and back. We got home at 11pm last night and I was so wired from coffee that I had a glass of wine, some ice cream, and just relaxed for a while before going to bed. I slept soundly, thank goodness! Today I'm cleaning, doing mountains of laundry, grocery shopping, and taking a long nap! Not sure what's for dinner tonight - went to the grocer to get some sale chicken and they're out of it until later in the day, so will go back around 4 and do my shopping.