I'm having a hard time being still (at my center) and following through.
Last night at around midnight I was watching tv (Sunday night = Game of Thrones, Mad Men and The Killing) and snarfed a copious amount of Finnish milk chocolate.
And I thought: I can't trust myself to do the right thing (for myself).
This was quickly followed by: how can I trust myself to do the right thing for the kids/Cap/the family?
I'm okay. Because I am, truly, in a better place than I have been in years. I kind of can't get knocked down. I feel I've been weebly since late Winter. Hence the trouble getting still. C'est la vie. And I've got a good one.
This morning I felt a strong impulse to take flight. So I ditched the top items on my "to do" list and instead went malling with Leo and Danielle. I returned some items to Land's End. And sipped a latte from Starbucks and brunched at Qdoba. Mainstream branded myself up the wazoo.
I arrived home to news that my book was at the bookshop. So I went back out. I had myself a pre-No Spend month splurge and picked up this and this for myself, too. (The Bloggess book I am stoked about. It hit the NYT bestseller list at freaking #1. That is some kind of crazy wonderful. The Jones book has been on my radar for awhile because Alex Chee raved about her work. I love having a bookshop that inspires warmth and love and joy pretty much every time I step in. I warned them I'd be sparse next month.)
Tonight I drank in the deeply satisfied utterances of my children as they ate dinner. (Grass-fed beef sliders, white rice and peas.) I drank in their words, thoughts, gazes and hugs. No matter what, it just doesn't get any better than that. Everything is so worth having this time with them.
So I strive with gratitude. Wobbling and not falling down. Leaning into, nudging and pushing through stagnation wherever it is met.
Peace and love.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Creamy quinoa
It was so tasty I was down to my last bites before I could tear myself away to grab my camera.
Yesterday afternoon I spent some time pulling out cookbooks and trying to meal plan. One of the books, 3 Bowls, had a recipe for Creamy Quinoa. It was so simple, and quinoa is so nutritious, I made note of it.
This morning, I realized we had quinoa (we usually do because Gem really likes it...but I don't make it often because no one else really does) so I made it creamy style.
Rinse 1 cup quinoa well and drain. In medium saucepan combine quinoa with 4 cups water and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to very low, cover and cook till thickened, about 30 minutes. Stir in 1/2 teaspoon salt. Serve hot with fave condiments.
When I lifted the lid at 30 minutes, the quinoa was thick, but I could still see liquid. I turned the heat off and stirred the quinoa for a minute or two and the water absorbed quickly and the quinoa was ready, nice and creamy.
I had soy-free Earth Balance, maple syrup and wheat-free tamari on the table.
Gem tried it sweet and then savory and could not get past the texture (his brain was not happy... oatmeal = creamy + quinoa = nubby and it's going to take awhile for the 'twain to meet).
Sag had his sweet (I promised him Kerrygold butter next time) and was surprised that it wasn't totally gross. He ate about half his bowl.
I loved it! I wasn't planning on eating any because last I checked I was trying to get back to being fully grain-free and do Dragon's Way without non-veg or fruit carbs. But, when Gem didn't consume more than a lick, I decided to eat his sweet bowl.
I found it more palatable than quinoa made the regular way, which I prefer mixed with other things, as in a salad. (Unlike Gem who likes a big bowl of it with Earth Balance and wheat-free tamari.) As far as creamy hot cereals go, I found the flavor of the quinoa to be more complex than oatmeal. Good oatmeal has a firm place in the breakfast pantheon...but the creamy quinoa was quite special.
Peace and love.
Friday, April 27, 2012
The "one who cooks"
Something Robb Wolf says in his book has been sinking into me the last 24 hours.
This has given me pause. Great pause. The time, energy and money that
would be saved if I shifted my attitude about "what lands on the dinner
table"? A lot, I think. I haven't thought of myself as a line cook,
per se, but it is true that these days there are usually two to
three (and yes, sometimes four) separate meals being served at any given mealtime. It is
extremely rare for us to be sitting down to the same meal, as a family.
The evolution of our mealtimes has not been inorganic. Each of us brings unique palates, intolerances/allergies, and dietary modifications of choice, to the table. Additionally, Cap's schedule, as wonderfully flexible as it is for homeschooling purposes, has historically kept him from eating dinner with us on a regular basis.
But now, as I consider questions like: "should the kids go Paleo?" and "should we all go gluten-free?" and "are the kids old enough to fend for themselves in the kitchen?", that paragraph above felt like a perfect catalyst.
Here is an opportunity to tie some of these strands together.
: : : : : :
My PMS is coming "post" again. It's funny. I am reminded of a much younger version of myself when I used to never anticipate PMS and would only realize I was PMSing as my period would arrive. I appreciate the experience of not knowing even as it involves my body and mind in such an intimate way. I am presently buzzing uncomfortably an hour after downing handfuls of chocolate chips in a fit of hormonal frenzy.
: : : : : :
Watching the sunlight, wind and leafy leafy trees dance and whip about and settle...over and over. I am at rest, comparatively, still feeling a bit vulnerable from the itty bitty thing of a virus that passed through here.
-
"First, I feel like you should know that it’s not your job to please everyone. If you’re cooking for one, congratulations, you are lucky. If you
have a spouse, children, or other family members, then you know as the “one who cooks” sometimes it can feel like you’re a line cook
in a busy restaurant full of ticked off customers. Well, you are not a
short order cook, nor is this Burger King where they get to “have it
their way.” If you’re investing the time into meal planning, shopping,
and cooking, then you get to make the decisions about what’s in
the kitchen cabinets and ultimately what lands on the dinner table.
We’ve got some strategies for making sure your family feels involved
and heard, but unless they are willing to share the responsibility of
cooking, shopping, and planning, you choose the meals."
The evolution of our mealtimes has not been inorganic. Each of us brings unique palates, intolerances/allergies, and dietary modifications of choice, to the table. Additionally, Cap's schedule, as wonderfully flexible as it is for homeschooling purposes, has historically kept him from eating dinner with us on a regular basis.
But now, as I consider questions like: "should the kids go Paleo?" and "should we all go gluten-free?" and "are the kids old enough to fend for themselves in the kitchen?", that paragraph above felt like a perfect catalyst.
Here is an opportunity to tie some of these strands together.
: : : : : :
My PMS is coming "post" again. It's funny. I am reminded of a much younger version of myself when I used to never anticipate PMS and would only realize I was PMSing as my period would arrive. I appreciate the experience of not knowing even as it involves my body and mind in such an intimate way. I am presently buzzing uncomfortably an hour after downing handfuls of chocolate chips in a fit of hormonal frenzy.
: : : : : :
Watching the sunlight, wind and leafy leafy trees dance and whip about and settle...over and over. I am at rest, comparatively, still feeling a bit vulnerable from the itty bitty thing of a virus that passed through here.
Bulletin
What's going on:
• small virus bouncing around...Cap is fine so far, Sag was exhausted and popped a tiny fever, I felt unwell yesterday afternoon into evening including no appetite at dinner/queasiness, Gem felt crappy Wed afternoon and then had GI issues Wed night and a fever yesterday.
• the kids and I are not going to Plympton...bummer.
• feeling a bit overwhelmed by a slew of ideas and impulses. parsing for simplicity.
• breaking the quesadilla-from-Whole-Foods-to-end-my-day habit I've somehow formed this week. Dragon's Way, Manatee, focus!
• putting the pressure cooker on a back burner *smile* for now. again.
• came across this link to bone broth in Robb Wolf's e-book and found a great deal on what would be for us an updated slow cooker. I am fascinated by the idea of this soup (Wendy I want your feedback). I realized that my obsessive pressure cooker attraction could be distilled to (and calmed by) the idea of this soup. cavewoman want bone broth for family. with the demise of the hot water pot we have space on the counter for a perpetual soup pot. (kind of.)
• I haven't ordered from Amazon in a long time. I no longer buy books from them. this deal was hard to deny.
• I didn't practice Qigong yesterday and I could really feel it last night. must clear kids out of my space for 30 minutes to practice today. can't do it when they are around.
• still overwhelmed. what to tackle first: declutter a room, finish reading car manual, the lunchbox, write a budget, begin reading Elaine Aron's book for the HSP online program, continue reading Ted Zeff's book, finish reading Robb Wolf's e-book, meal plan, pay bills...in a few minutes the kids will need me for homeschooling attention and then the making of smoothies and lunch.
• I keep hearing this song in my iTunes. so soothing. peace and love.
• small virus bouncing around...Cap is fine so far, Sag was exhausted and popped a tiny fever, I felt unwell yesterday afternoon into evening including no appetite at dinner/queasiness, Gem felt crappy Wed afternoon and then had GI issues Wed night and a fever yesterday.
• the kids and I are not going to Plympton...bummer.
• feeling a bit overwhelmed by a slew of ideas and impulses. parsing for simplicity.
• breaking the quesadilla-from-Whole-Foods-to-end-my-day habit I've somehow formed this week. Dragon's Way, Manatee, focus!
• putting the pressure cooker on a back burner *smile* for now. again.
• came across this link to bone broth in Robb Wolf's e-book and found a great deal on what would be for us an updated slow cooker. I am fascinated by the idea of this soup (Wendy I want your feedback). I realized that my obsessive pressure cooker attraction could be distilled to (and calmed by) the idea of this soup. cavewoman want bone broth for family. with the demise of the hot water pot we have space on the counter for a perpetual soup pot. (kind of.)
• I haven't ordered from Amazon in a long time. I no longer buy books from them. this deal was hard to deny.
• I didn't practice Qigong yesterday and I could really feel it last night. must clear kids out of my space for 30 minutes to practice today. can't do it when they are around.
• still overwhelmed. what to tackle first: declutter a room, finish reading car manual, the lunchbox, write a budget, begin reading Elaine Aron's book for the HSP online program, continue reading Ted Zeff's book, finish reading Robb Wolf's e-book, meal plan, pay bills...in a few minutes the kids will need me for homeschooling attention and then the making of smoothies and lunch.
• I keep hearing this song in my iTunes. so soothing. peace and love.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Gulp
In the video, one of the gym members says something about "getting comfortable with being uncomfortable"...and that really sums it up for me. I have started thinking about taking a free trial class and then singing up for a few months. CrossFit is the strength building other half of eating Paleo.
Part of me can't even believe I am considering this, but another is quietly, expectantly giddy. (And there is the part of me that knows that this will be one of the hardest things I ever do.)
Part of me can't even believe I am considering this, but another is quietly, expectantly giddy. (And there is the part of me that knows that this will be one of the hardest things I ever do.)
Talking myself down
Beginning to read Robb Wolf's e-book got me thinking about pressure cookers. I've thought on and off for years about purchasing one. I did some research this afternoon and it boils down to this...
Pro:
• cuts down cooking times significantly, apparently without much loss of flavor or nutrients...I'm thinking of things like bone broth (stock), stews and roasts
Con:
• if I have the option to buy not "made in China", I do...which would mean I'm looking at spending $100-$200
I put it out to my Facebook nation and got some helpful feedback. Namely, that most professional kitchens don't use them (unless they are at high altitude)...evidence of the prevailing old school notion that "low and slow" is best.
I am talking myself down from a bit of pre-austerity spendy froth. It was fun while it lasted, shiny non-magic bullet gadget...maybe we'll meet again some day.
Pro:
• cuts down cooking times significantly, apparently without much loss of flavor or nutrients...I'm thinking of things like bone broth (stock), stews and roasts
Con:
• if I have the option to buy not "made in China", I do...which would mean I'm looking at spending $100-$200
I put it out to my Facebook nation and got some helpful feedback. Namely, that most professional kitchens don't use them (unless they are at high altitude)...evidence of the prevailing old school notion that "low and slow" is best.
I am talking myself down from a bit of pre-austerity spendy froth. It was fun while it lasted, shiny non-magic bullet gadget...maybe we'll meet again some day.
Of peonies and such
I am feeling like a conduit in the very best ways.
: : : : : :
For months, when Donna and I would meet for tea or coffee at Terra, she would mention the "secret" garden located behind the building next door. We would agree she'd show it to me once the flowers were in bloom.
: : : : : :
For months, when Donna and I would meet for tea or coffee at Terra, she would mention the "secret" garden located behind the building next door. We would agree she'd show it to me once the flowers were in bloom.
Today turned out to be the day. I never think of peonies. Unless they are in bloom in my presence and then they are undeniable. There were tons of plants and flowers including many varieties of tulips. Wonderful.
We chatted about getting Gem and Donna together. He has a passion for flowers and gardening that Cap and I haven't come close to meeting him on. Donna, she has the passion, too. Sometimes, education is about bringing people with like passions together, no?
: : : : : :
I bought Robb Wolf's The Paleo Diet Budget Shopping Guide. There's a 60 day money back guarantee, which I think is generous. I've started reading it and think it will give me some oomph in May as I settle into creating meaningful and budget-conscious routines.
: : : : : :
As soon as I click off from here, I am heading over to Ane Axford's site. I am going to sign up for the Sensitive and Thriving Basics Online Program. I am excited and a little reticent, truth be told. I do tend to feel resistance when "signing on" to something. I don't know why, but there is something about making a commitment which gives me the willies.
It may be vestigial from the days when I was so desperate for a magic bullet that I latched onto gurus, books, courses, impulsively...only to burn out and not only follow through, but realize that I was never game in the first place.
However, I have been thinking about highly sensitive stuff for awhile. And I have waited to sign up to see if my sense of its value would shift. It hasn't.
Off I go!
: : : : : :
Peace and love.
Morning read
I read a very interesting article over at Wired this morning. And now, to mosey along to what's next...it's a cloudy and slow start today. (Rain expected in a few hours.)
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Appliance adieu
A few years ago, we dug this hot water pot from...somewhere I don't remember. It belonged to my parents. It was made in Japan in...
(can you see?) 1992. I knew it was old, and indeed, it is twenty years old. Or rather...was.
It stopped working a couple of days ago. It died a silent and sudden death. Bummer. We used this electric "pot" (as they are called in Japan) every day, multiple times a day. We filled it in the morning, plugged it in, and had hot water available by the mug-full (or French press-full) for the rest of the day/night.
Part of me wants to run out to Mitsuwa as soon as possible to buy a new one. But, the part of me thinking of the No Spend month/austerity budget is holding back. This morning I boiled water for tea for the kids and me in a small pot on the stove. And it was fine. Of course.
R.I.P. Handy dandy hot water pot.
Morning musing
I don't feel as terribly tired as I usually do on the second day of my period. Is it a coincidence? Or is it due to the chaos of early Spring shaking loose "stuff" (that had been stagnant) followed by starting Dragon's Way (and that kickass group practice Monday night)?
I feel lighter, and in fact, stepped on the scale this morning and saw I'd lost three pounds. (I sometimes feel like I literally embody my Sun sign, the water bearer...) It's a one-two punch: rotating in the water-releasing veggies of the Dragon Way and the hormonal shift that comes with starting my period which tends to release water retention.
My period arrived without the usual negative fanfare, too. And a bit early. Double yay because no PMS is awesome and I was dreading traveling to and from MA in the depth of my bleeding time.
Okay, enough about my menses.
Here are some pics which have accumulated in the camera:
It occurs to me now that maybe I was a bit PMS-y over the weekend. My mind latched onto having sushi Sunday afternoon and would not shake the notion. Cap brought me some in between sessions of his conference up at the University. It was delicious, but too much. I felt like I was going to explode afterward. Ninety minutes later I was sitting in an Indian restaurant celebrating Kelly's birthday. (I had a lamb samosa and mango lassi for dinner.)
I went on a shopping expedition with Leo and Danielle last week. My quest for Mod Podge (for my lunchbox project) brought me to my favorite local art shop. Ever since spotting the light boxes there during my pre-Xmas annual visit, I have been researching and considering. Sag has been wanting one on and off for awhile having used them in his animation classes and learning how Minecrafters use them in their animations (via YouTube). Here's our new lightpad. It's nifty.
Dragon's Way food: zucchini, spinach, cherry toms, pine nuts, garlic and ginger. Yum.
I feel lighter, and in fact, stepped on the scale this morning and saw I'd lost three pounds. (I sometimes feel like I literally embody my Sun sign, the water bearer...) It's a one-two punch: rotating in the water-releasing veggies of the Dragon Way and the hormonal shift that comes with starting my period which tends to release water retention.
My period arrived without the usual negative fanfare, too. And a bit early. Double yay because no PMS is awesome and I was dreading traveling to and from MA in the depth of my bleeding time.
Okay, enough about my menses.
Here are some pics which have accumulated in the camera:
It occurs to me now that maybe I was a bit PMS-y over the weekend. My mind latched onto having sushi Sunday afternoon and would not shake the notion. Cap brought me some in between sessions of his conference up at the University. It was delicious, but too much. I felt like I was going to explode afterward. Ninety minutes later I was sitting in an Indian restaurant celebrating Kelly's birthday. (I had a lamb samosa and mango lassi for dinner.)
I went on a shopping expedition with Leo and Danielle last week. My quest for Mod Podge (for my lunchbox project) brought me to my favorite local art shop. Ever since spotting the light boxes there during my pre-Xmas annual visit, I have been researching and considering. Sag has been wanting one on and off for awhile having used them in his animation classes and learning how Minecrafters use them in their animations (via YouTube). Here's our new lightpad. It's nifty.
Dragon's Way food: zucchini, spinach, cherry toms, pine nuts, garlic and ginger. Yum.
My as-of-yet unopened Mod Podge. And the tablet stand I found on sale at Radio Shack. The stand will come useful in the kitchen to pull up recipes. It is time to make the shift...towards putting my scraps of paper and overstuffed binder of recipes to rest.
Peace and love.
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
On my mind
Does anyone else feel like 2012 is zipping along? Honestly, it feels like it is FLYING, to me, at times.
I am touching down from the whirls of activity which have characterized the past few days. I am happy. And present. Also a bit stunned.
Dragon's Way is good. Class last night was wonderful. Lovely and lighter vegetarian meals are gracing my days again. I had a strict mindset in place, but my whole system is working in concert to give itself what it needs...and a break from one part feeling like it has to take control for the benefit of the whole. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Mind.)
Wonderful to feel ease. And to experience the embodiment of balance rather than the wishful thinking of it.
Amidst the much going on, I am noticing a steadiness in spending (see "stunned", above). After decades of spending on credit, it means so much to be spending what we have. But, the time has come to hit pause. I am going to create a budget for essentials only for May and we will have a No Spend month. We will stick to the budget and not spend even a penny on anything else.
The Prius is swell. Driving it is rapidly becoming intuitive. I still have half the manual to read and haven't been able to sync the Entune system (our mobile phone carrier is not included in their online set-up which means I have to go out to the car one day with my phone and the manual and maybe even my laptop?!...too complicated to do as of yet).
Last night I couldn't find the parking brake with my foot. It was dark and rainy (the kids and I were trying to leave Dragon's Way) and I had to step out of the car and crouch down to visually locate the thing three times before I managed to find it with my foot to release it. Funny stuff like that keeps happening.
I am slowly working on an art project. Which will eventually be part of Lana's project. I have not perused the online exhibit yet (I want to finish my part first), but am really looking forward to it!
On deck for me this week:
• working on budget
• planning and prepping meals/snacks for Gem and myself for our 24 hours in Plympton and dinner in Forest Hills this weekend
• homeschooling
• Dragon's Way
• thinking on birthday gifts for two very special people in our lives
• reading the car manual
• tending to my menstrual self
• singing up for Ane Axford's six-month course (she's got an April "deal")
• coming up with a creative and/or fitting gift for the visiting Finns (reason for quickie visit to MA)
April has been an exceedingly "busy" month. By the end of the month we will have gone away three out of the four weekends.
I am looking forward to staying put in May. Settling into Dragon's Way, settling into homeschooling...making time for decluttering (still have our room, the kitchen, the bathroom, the boys' room and the basement left!) and making time for homeschool planning for the Fall.
Cap and I are looking forward to beginning what will likely be a series of conversations about college for the kids. What we think about it, how we'd like to plan for it, etc.
Somewhat related to this, we would like to devote some time and energy towards thinking about how and why we would like to expand Gem's homeschooling, in particular. If we had placed him in school when we moved here, he would be entering sixth grade/middle school in September. It seems a good time to reflect and assess...keeping pace with cognitive/intellectual developmental leaps of late and bearing in mind where he'd be on a pre-college "track", whether of our own devising or finding one that exists already that jives with our pedagogy.
Exciting and fun stuff.
At the moment, I am settling into life now. Which means folding laundry and watching some tv. House and episodes of House of Lies (love The Cheadle), I think. Sipping Chinese digestion tea with honey. (Temps have dropped here again...tonight's low will be in the 30s.)
Peace and love.
I am touching down from the whirls of activity which have characterized the past few days. I am happy. And present. Also a bit stunned.
Dragon's Way is good. Class last night was wonderful. Lovely and lighter vegetarian meals are gracing my days again. I had a strict mindset in place, but my whole system is working in concert to give itself what it needs...and a break from one part feeling like it has to take control for the benefit of the whole. (Yes, I'm looking at you, Mind.)
Wonderful to feel ease. And to experience the embodiment of balance rather than the wishful thinking of it.
Amidst the much going on, I am noticing a steadiness in spending (see "stunned", above). After decades of spending on credit, it means so much to be spending what we have. But, the time has come to hit pause. I am going to create a budget for essentials only for May and we will have a No Spend month. We will stick to the budget and not spend even a penny on anything else.
The Prius is swell. Driving it is rapidly becoming intuitive. I still have half the manual to read and haven't been able to sync the Entune system (our mobile phone carrier is not included in their online set-up which means I have to go out to the car one day with my phone and the manual and maybe even my laptop?!...too complicated to do as of yet).
Last night I couldn't find the parking brake with my foot. It was dark and rainy (the kids and I were trying to leave Dragon's Way) and I had to step out of the car and crouch down to visually locate the thing three times before I managed to find it with my foot to release it. Funny stuff like that keeps happening.
I am slowly working on an art project. Which will eventually be part of Lana's project. I have not perused the online exhibit yet (I want to finish my part first), but am really looking forward to it!
On deck for me this week:
• working on budget
• planning and prepping meals/snacks for Gem and myself for our 24 hours in Plympton and dinner in Forest Hills this weekend
• homeschooling
• Dragon's Way
• thinking on birthday gifts for two very special people in our lives
• reading the car manual
• tending to my menstrual self
• singing up for Ane Axford's six-month course (she's got an April "deal")
• coming up with a creative and/or fitting gift for the visiting Finns (reason for quickie visit to MA)
April has been an exceedingly "busy" month. By the end of the month we will have gone away three out of the four weekends.
I am looking forward to staying put in May. Settling into Dragon's Way, settling into homeschooling...making time for decluttering (still have our room, the kitchen, the bathroom, the boys' room and the basement left!) and making time for homeschool planning for the Fall.
Cap and I are looking forward to beginning what will likely be a series of conversations about college for the kids. What we think about it, how we'd like to plan for it, etc.
Somewhat related to this, we would like to devote some time and energy towards thinking about how and why we would like to expand Gem's homeschooling, in particular. If we had placed him in school when we moved here, he would be entering sixth grade/middle school in September. It seems a good time to reflect and assess...keeping pace with cognitive/intellectual developmental leaps of late and bearing in mind where he'd be on a pre-college "track", whether of our own devising or finding one that exists already that jives with our pedagogy.
Exciting and fun stuff.
At the moment, I am settling into life now. Which means folding laundry and watching some tv. House and episodes of House of Lies (love The Cheadle), I think. Sipping Chinese digestion tea with honey. (Temps have dropped here again...tonight's low will be in the 30s.)
Peace and love.
Monday, April 23, 2012
Quickie
I have a post in draft from yesterday. And some photos from today. But, I am posting on the fly so there will be none of either.
Dragon's Way class starts in less than an hour. My childcare fell through so I am bringing the kids with me. They will play on their DSes with the sound off. I have to feed them before we leave, the tater tots and hotdogs are warming in the oven and on the stove top. We're out of frozen peas. Oops.
This happens when I embark on a shift in my eating which requires needing more time to figure out my food...the kids' meals become convenience-heavy for a bit.
Since late afternoon, I have been feeling hungry, both in quantity and quality, at a rate much higher than my normal. I had a spinach and one egg scramble around 4pm. While I got the kids' dinner going, I felt peckish so I had a small snack of macadamia nuts and dates. Now I am feeling stabby pangs of hunger.
Is it animal protein withdrawal? Maybe. I am certain that practicing Qigong in class will help smooth my system out. I don't have to hold out too long.
Peace and love.
Dragon's Way class starts in less than an hour. My childcare fell through so I am bringing the kids with me. They will play on their DSes with the sound off. I have to feed them before we leave, the tater tots and hotdogs are warming in the oven and on the stove top. We're out of frozen peas. Oops.
This happens when I embark on a shift in my eating which requires needing more time to figure out my food...the kids' meals become convenience-heavy for a bit.
Since late afternoon, I have been feeling hungry, both in quantity and quality, at a rate much higher than my normal. I had a spinach and one egg scramble around 4pm. While I got the kids' dinner going, I felt peckish so I had a small snack of macadamia nuts and dates. Now I am feeling stabby pangs of hunger.
Is it animal protein withdrawal? Maybe. I am certain that practicing Qigong in class will help smooth my system out. I don't have to hold out too long.
Peace and love.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Maiden voyage: check
Still shuddering a bit inside. Hot latte is helping to soothe.
I am going out to dinner tonight to celebrate Kelly's birthday with some friends. Cap has been working all weekend at two one-day conferences. I didn't want him to have to fend for dinner with the kids tonight. This meant shifting what I thought would be for lunch for the boys to dinner. Which meant I needed to forage at Whole Foods for lunch...not only for the kids, but for Daniel, who will be spending most of the day with us.
That meant taking the car out. I probably had enough time to walk, but it would be cutting it close time-wise...and also prolonging the inevitable. My first drive was not going to happen without me.
What's my problem?
• I grew up in NYC. My family didn't own a car for most of my childhood. My mother never learned to drive. I failed my driving test in Driver's Ed in high school. I didn't learn to drive till my senior year of college, and my main reason for taking the driving test then was knowing I would not be required to parallel park. I passed that test and got my CT license in 1988 shortly before graduating. I did not own a car. I moved to Japan for a year after that. The year after that I lived in California and I drove a rental car once or twice not very well. The year after that I lived in Japan again. (I have never driven in Japan.) In late 1991 I moved to Massachusetts. The guy at the Plymouth DMV looked at me like I had two heads when I presented my California driver's license to him so I could get a Massachusetts one. It wasn't a license, it was an ID card. I was so out of it as a driver that I'd forgotten that when I moved to Cali I opted to get the ID card (which at that time looked exactly like a driver's license) for official identification purposes. I don't remember why I did that, but it was probably because I didn't anticipate needing to drive. I had no idea where my CT license was so I had to retake all the necessary tests in order to receive a MA license. Luckily, I passed. In early 1992, we bought our first car. I was 26 when I truly began to drive. A late bloomer of sorts.
(Funny story: one of my siblings had come across my CT license at home in NY and figuring I didn't need it wherever I was in Japan or California, used it to make a fake ID.)
• I am a kinesthetic learner. I need to "do" in order to figure it out when I am learning how to do something. When it comes to driving, my confidence in driving is distilled down to routes. The more times I've driven a particular route, the more confident I am in driving...that route. Therefore, I may appear to be a confident driver overall, but the reality is that I am not.
• If Cap and I are in the car together, 99 out of 100 times, he will drive because I want him to.
• If I have to drive somewhere important (ie. first day at new job, first time visit with doctor, etc.), I will often do the drive the day/night before with Cap so I can "see" the route beforehand. I can't do this simply by looking at a map. I have to "do" it.
• Since moving to NJ, I have felt conflict and tension because living here has required more driving (older homeschooling kids with growing interests/circles) in more concentrated congestion of people, cars, streets, towns and than anywhere else I have lived. I pretty much do not want to drive outside my familiar routes...but feel bad about it.
• When I do step outside my comfort level and drive places less familiar, it takes a big toll on me energy-wise. I am very tense in every way before, during and after. And then I'm a puddle.
• It wasn't until after I had kids in the car with me that I began to take driving as seriously as behooved me. Having their safety be paramount pushed me to become a much better driver than I had been up till then. (I was 34 when Gem was born.) The last driving accident I caused was when I was quite pregnant with Gem. I rear ended someone on my way home from work because I was trying to eat a messy sub while driving. Even being pregnant didn't wake me up! I had to have that live little baby, out of my uterus, for driving safety to begin truly sinking in.
This is all to say that I've been increasingly nervous about driving the Prius for the last 24+ hours...and why. I couldn't do it yesterday, but today I was motivated.
So, I grabbed the manual and the kids and I got in the car. (No name yet...soon we hope!) I tried to remember how to start it and shift into reverse. I couldn't do it! I tried for a few minutes and then consulted the manual. I had already read that section, but didn't remember. I found the info I needed and we were on our way.
The streets were very quiet, thank goodness. I realized quickly that there was much to distract my attention: the digital readout of the "speedometer" threw me off and my eyes were repeatedly drawn to watching those numbers change...the breaks were so responsive!...too responsive!...acceleration took longer than felt intuitive...too long! I'd always remember, too late, to see if someone was behind me. Like I said, thankfully, the streets were quiet so I wasn't being a hazard.
The car is very quiet, as you may know or have heard. I was right to think it will take me awhile to adjust to not having the sound feedback you get driving a non-hybrid car. I have no idea when I will actually begin to read and understand the information on the dash regarding whether you are in Eco mode or power mode, how much gas you have left, how much battery charge there is, what time it is, what the temperature is outside, etc. etc. There is so much info lit up on the display screen!
We made it to the supermarket (five minutes away) and after we picked up stuff for lunch a big latte for me, we put the bags in the back of the car because I figured out how to open the hatchback door! My body remembered what to do to start the car and shift into drive (though I couldn't tell you know. My body knows more easily than my mind.
If I feel up for it, I will take another short trip later to the bookstore. Eek!
Peace and love.
I am going out to dinner tonight to celebrate Kelly's birthday with some friends. Cap has been working all weekend at two one-day conferences. I didn't want him to have to fend for dinner with the kids tonight. This meant shifting what I thought would be for lunch for the boys to dinner. Which meant I needed to forage at Whole Foods for lunch...not only for the kids, but for Daniel, who will be spending most of the day with us.
That meant taking the car out. I probably had enough time to walk, but it would be cutting it close time-wise...and also prolonging the inevitable. My first drive was not going to happen without me.
What's my problem?
• I grew up in NYC. My family didn't own a car for most of my childhood. My mother never learned to drive. I failed my driving test in Driver's Ed in high school. I didn't learn to drive till my senior year of college, and my main reason for taking the driving test then was knowing I would not be required to parallel park. I passed that test and got my CT license in 1988 shortly before graduating. I did not own a car. I moved to Japan for a year after that. The year after that I lived in California and I drove a rental car once or twice not very well. The year after that I lived in Japan again. (I have never driven in Japan.) In late 1991 I moved to Massachusetts. The guy at the Plymouth DMV looked at me like I had two heads when I presented my California driver's license to him so I could get a Massachusetts one. It wasn't a license, it was an ID card. I was so out of it as a driver that I'd forgotten that when I moved to Cali I opted to get the ID card (which at that time looked exactly like a driver's license) for official identification purposes. I don't remember why I did that, but it was probably because I didn't anticipate needing to drive. I had no idea where my CT license was so I had to retake all the necessary tests in order to receive a MA license. Luckily, I passed. In early 1992, we bought our first car. I was 26 when I truly began to drive. A late bloomer of sorts.
(Funny story: one of my siblings had come across my CT license at home in NY and figuring I didn't need it wherever I was in Japan or California, used it to make a fake ID.)
• I am a kinesthetic learner. I need to "do" in order to figure it out when I am learning how to do something. When it comes to driving, my confidence in driving is distilled down to routes. The more times I've driven a particular route, the more confident I am in driving...that route. Therefore, I may appear to be a confident driver overall, but the reality is that I am not.
• If Cap and I are in the car together, 99 out of 100 times, he will drive because I want him to.
• If I have to drive somewhere important (ie. first day at new job, first time visit with doctor, etc.), I will often do the drive the day/night before with Cap so I can "see" the route beforehand. I can't do this simply by looking at a map. I have to "do" it.
• Since moving to NJ, I have felt conflict and tension because living here has required more driving (older homeschooling kids with growing interests/circles) in more concentrated congestion of people, cars, streets, towns and than anywhere else I have lived. I pretty much do not want to drive outside my familiar routes...but feel bad about it.
• When I do step outside my comfort level and drive places less familiar, it takes a big toll on me energy-wise. I am very tense in every way before, during and after. And then I'm a puddle.
• It wasn't until after I had kids in the car with me that I began to take driving as seriously as behooved me. Having their safety be paramount pushed me to become a much better driver than I had been up till then. (I was 34 when Gem was born.) The last driving accident I caused was when I was quite pregnant with Gem. I rear ended someone on my way home from work because I was trying to eat a messy sub while driving. Even being pregnant didn't wake me up! I had to have that live little baby, out of my uterus, for driving safety to begin truly sinking in.
This is all to say that I've been increasingly nervous about driving the Prius for the last 24+ hours...and why. I couldn't do it yesterday, but today I was motivated.
So, I grabbed the manual and the kids and I got in the car. (No name yet...soon we hope!) I tried to remember how to start it and shift into reverse. I couldn't do it! I tried for a few minutes and then consulted the manual. I had already read that section, but didn't remember. I found the info I needed and we were on our way.
The streets were very quiet, thank goodness. I realized quickly that there was much to distract my attention: the digital readout of the "speedometer" threw me off and my eyes were repeatedly drawn to watching those numbers change...the breaks were so responsive!...too responsive!...acceleration took longer than felt intuitive...too long! I'd always remember, too late, to see if someone was behind me. Like I said, thankfully, the streets were quiet so I wasn't being a hazard.
The car is very quiet, as you may know or have heard. I was right to think it will take me awhile to adjust to not having the sound feedback you get driving a non-hybrid car. I have no idea when I will actually begin to read and understand the information on the dash regarding whether you are in Eco mode or power mode, how much gas you have left, how much battery charge there is, what time it is, what the temperature is outside, etc. etc. There is so much info lit up on the display screen!
We made it to the supermarket (five minutes away) and after we picked up stuff for lunch a big latte for me, we put the bags in the back of the car because I figured out how to open the hatchback door! My body remembered what to do to start the car and shift into drive (though I couldn't tell you know. My body knows more easily than my mind.
If I feel up for it, I will take another short trip later to the bookstore. Eek!
Peace and love.
Saturday, April 21, 2012
From the kitchen
The caramel sauce thickened up beautifully in the fridge. I used salted butter for this and it adds a wonderful undertone of savory to the rich, rich sweet.
Yummy by the fingerful. No more after this weekend. It's not a very Dragon-y condiment.
Hallelujah, there was a can of tuna. I've been wanting to break into my new shipment of Pure Wraps, but not wanting to fill it with scrambled egg (my protein of choice lately) because the heat from the eggs makes the wrap all droopy.
I mixed the tuna with a dollop of mayo, added a spoonful of capers (a big one, they are a new favorite ingredient of mine), and seasoned with salt and pepper.
This stuff is so great. I can pop it on the counter in the morning and it's thawed by lunchtime. Well marbled meat is so pretty...
Hope you're eating well today.
More new car
The morning after shots...
It strongly resembles its sibling the Prius. But, it is longer. Measuring with the naked eye, the Prius V looks as long as my downstairs neighbor's Jeep Cherokee. The Prius V's cargo space rivals and sometimes beats the cargo space of SUVs that appear much larger.
We don't need as much cargo space as we used to. But, we do like having the option to lug yet another bookshelf home from Ikea. The first thing Sag said when he stepped into the car was, "it's so big!" The interior feels very roomy and airy. Fingers crossed that this, plus the lower center of gravity you don't get with an SUV, will help prevent his bouts of car sickness (ginger chews as soon as we get in the car seem to be helping, too).
This looks so futuristic. I love it.
These cobalt blue accents can be found in and around the car. Lovely color. I wonder if the red car has blue accents, too. The other car was red, which I thought I would like. It's called Barcelona Red, for heaven's sake. But, the color was flat, with no richness. I never thought I'd like silver as much as I do on this car. Our exterior is Classic Silver Metallic. The interior is Misty Gray.
The steering wheel. It's kind of nice to be seeing the Toyota symbol again. Our first car was a Toyota Tercel and we loved it. We drove it into the ground and bought the Subaru Legacy wagon just before Gem was born, in 2000. I was remarking to Cap yesterday, during our four hours at the dealership, that I didn't remember anything about the day we bought the Subaru. He gently reminded me that I was not there, as I was big as a house and not doing much (I was on bed rest towards the end). His sister was his co-pilot that day.
The shift lever is bright cobalt blue. And on the dashboard. Our car is an automatic transmission but the shifting mechanism works differently from either car we've had before (you move it to certain positions to shift, but then return the lever to its resting position). To turn the car on you push that big button that says "POWER". Standing next to the car with the keyless remote in your pocket will un/lock the doors! Cool...and kind of creepy.
*Sigh* The lovely leather seats. I didn't get my one luxury wishlist item, heated seats, but I am very happy about these seats. Go ahead, you can stroke, I'll give you a moment.
Gem, our child who holds onto things, has been reluctant to let go of his booster seat. Laws are confusing, citing, variously, age, height and weight requirements. Regardless, in the last year or so it has become apparent that he was too tall in the seat so we've been leaning on him to bid it adieu.
A couple of weeks ago, he decided that when we got our new car he would not move his booster seat into it. (I've been tossing it into the back of the Subaru for short trips to start getting him used to riding "bareback".) Yesterday he rode in the new car without his booster. He is sad though and even claimed he didn't remember saying he wouldn't use it in the Prius. He has asked for a reward as consolation. (He doesn't know what he wants...I think he just wanted the comfort, and acknowledgement, that he was doing something of scary and different. Change is bad, don't you know?)
Baby got boxy back :-) The morecrap cargo to easily pile in. The hatchback door on our Subaru has been rusted shut for...over a year, I think. A prohibitively expensive repair. (It is the handle that is rusted shut, not the door itself...but we'd have to replace the whole door or something costly like that.) I was so excited to open this door and take a picture of the cargo area...and I couldn't! I tried and tried and could not figure it out, cracking up the whole time. I got as far as page 104 (out of 564!) in the owner's manual last night...I will have to study it more today.
Cap was particularly motivated to buy a hybrid. I am glad it worked out that we could. I am really looking forward to experiencing the fuel economy! (And as the manual suggested, we won't be hauling those giant water cooler bottles...water spillage onto the electric battery = bad. The manual provides lots of laughs, you can totally tell it was translated from a Japanese document.)
Much fuss has been made (amongst certain circles) about the fact that Toyota named their Prius wagon "V". The original line of Prii, like the wagon, has three trim levels that are designated 2,3 and "mysteriously", 5. This means that if you want to speak of the wagon in the third trim level, you would say the Prius V 5. Confusing...in an English speaking non-Japanese culture.
In Japan, the letter V is culturally significant. This piece explains it well with loads of photos to back it up. I bet that's why they chose to name the wagon "V". There's a robust energy ("genki" in Japanese) implied in "V" in Japanese and the wagon = the Prius + some extra genki.
Not only would most Japanese not "see" the Roman numeral five when seeing the "V" (they'd see V = peace = good!), but the number four is considered bad luck in Japan. I wonder if that is why the trim levels skip it. (I can't explain why they didn't go with 1,2,3...possibly because 1 so often indicates "the best", which could be confusing when the 3 trim level is the "best" in this case.)
There are two pronunciations for the number four: "yon" and "shi". "Shi" is also how the word "death" is pronounced. Makes sense that they would want to avoid any association with death when branding the trim level of a car.
End of Japanese lesson for the day, class dismissed!
It strongly resembles its sibling the Prius. But, it is longer. Measuring with the naked eye, the Prius V looks as long as my downstairs neighbor's Jeep Cherokee. The Prius V's cargo space rivals and sometimes beats the cargo space of SUVs that appear much larger.
We don't need as much cargo space as we used to. But, we do like having the option to lug yet another bookshelf home from Ikea. The first thing Sag said when he stepped into the car was, "it's so big!" The interior feels very roomy and airy. Fingers crossed that this, plus the lower center of gravity you don't get with an SUV, will help prevent his bouts of car sickness (ginger chews as soon as we get in the car seem to be helping, too).
This looks so futuristic. I love it.
These cobalt blue accents can be found in and around the car. Lovely color. I wonder if the red car has blue accents, too. The other car was red, which I thought I would like. It's called Barcelona Red, for heaven's sake. But, the color was flat, with no richness. I never thought I'd like silver as much as I do on this car. Our exterior is Classic Silver Metallic. The interior is Misty Gray.
The steering wheel. It's kind of nice to be seeing the Toyota symbol again. Our first car was a Toyota Tercel and we loved it. We drove it into the ground and bought the Subaru Legacy wagon just before Gem was born, in 2000. I was remarking to Cap yesterday, during our four hours at the dealership, that I didn't remember anything about the day we bought the Subaru. He gently reminded me that I was not there, as I was big as a house and not doing much (I was on bed rest towards the end). His sister was his co-pilot that day.
The shift lever is bright cobalt blue. And on the dashboard. Our car is an automatic transmission but the shifting mechanism works differently from either car we've had before (you move it to certain positions to shift, but then return the lever to its resting position). To turn the car on you push that big button that says "POWER". Standing next to the car with the keyless remote in your pocket will un/lock the doors! Cool...and kind of creepy.
*Sigh* The lovely leather seats. I didn't get my one luxury wishlist item, heated seats, but I am very happy about these seats. Go ahead, you can stroke, I'll give you a moment.
Gem, our child who holds onto things, has been reluctant to let go of his booster seat. Laws are confusing, citing, variously, age, height and weight requirements. Regardless, in the last year or so it has become apparent that he was too tall in the seat so we've been leaning on him to bid it adieu.
A couple of weeks ago, he decided that when we got our new car he would not move his booster seat into it. (I've been tossing it into the back of the Subaru for short trips to start getting him used to riding "bareback".) Yesterday he rode in the new car without his booster. He is sad though and even claimed he didn't remember saying he wouldn't use it in the Prius. He has asked for a reward as consolation. (He doesn't know what he wants...I think he just wanted the comfort, and acknowledgement, that he was doing something of scary and different. Change is bad, don't you know?)
Baby got boxy back :-) The more
Cap was particularly motivated to buy a hybrid. I am glad it worked out that we could. I am really looking forward to experiencing the fuel economy! (And as the manual suggested, we won't be hauling those giant water cooler bottles...water spillage onto the electric battery = bad. The manual provides lots of laughs, you can totally tell it was translated from a Japanese document.)
Much fuss has been made (amongst certain circles) about the fact that Toyota named their Prius wagon "V". The original line of Prii, like the wagon, has three trim levels that are designated 2,3 and "mysteriously", 5. This means that if you want to speak of the wagon in the third trim level, you would say the Prius V 5. Confusing...in an English speaking non-Japanese culture.
In Japan, the letter V is culturally significant. This piece explains it well with loads of photos to back it up. I bet that's why they chose to name the wagon "V". There's a robust energy ("genki" in Japanese) implied in "V" in Japanese and the wagon = the Prius + some extra genki.
Not only would most Japanese not "see" the Roman numeral five when seeing the "V" (they'd see V = peace = good!), but the number four is considered bad luck in Japan. I wonder if that is why the trim levels skip it. (I can't explain why they didn't go with 1,2,3...possibly because 1 so often indicates "the best", which could be confusing when the 3 trim level is the "best" in this case.)
There are two pronunciations for the number four: "yon" and "shi". "Shi" is also how the word "death" is pronounced. Makes sense that they would want to avoid any association with death when branding the trim level of a car.
End of Japanese lesson for the day, class dismissed!
Pretty, pretty azaleas this morning. Peace and love.
Friday, April 20, 2012
New wheels
The deed is done. We are the happy owners of a Toyota Prius V! I am so grateful to Cap for being very supportive, compassionate and cooperative, throughout the whole process, but especially today during the FOUR hours we were at the dealership.
Negotiations were unexpectedly complicated because I was not happy with the interior color of the car they had in the trim level we were planning on buying (the basic one). I started feeling car sick riding in the back of a short test drive. The color was a charcoal gray (ie. very dark) and I felt like the sides of the car were closing in on me.
I was curious to see if it made a difference to sit in a car with a lighter interior (the first test drive we took a few weeks ago was in a car with a beige interior). The only other V they had (what the wagon is called) was silver with a regular grey interior in the second of three trim levels. I could see it was a bit lighter and asked if I could sit in the car to see if I could feel a difference.
Well, I felt an immediate difference...under my butt and behind my back. The seat (backseat) was so comfortable I didn't want to get up. It felt more cushioned and supported...the nimble feedback to my body was instantaneous. So we took a test drive.
The lighter color made a difference. My eyes weren't drawn to the contours of the front seats. They skipped easily past them and out the windows. The light wasn't drawn to the dark surfaces and shone more brightly and throughout the interior of the car. I felt much better.
So we found ourselves in the midst of a brewing storm of factors:
• I was very motivated to buy today once I saw they had the car in the base trim (the one we wanted and I had done all the math for...I was all excited before I got carsick).
• I was very motivated to buy from Edwin, who I liked from the start, a few weeks ago.
• There was no question I wanted the more expensive trim level car, today. Between the two cars, there was no looking back to the base trim model.
• It turned out the extremely comfortable seats were not due to the higher trim level. They were due to the fact that the car had leather seats which had been custom ordered by someone who ended up not buying the car. (I had thought they were pleather, funnily enough.)
• The cost to the dealer for installing the leather seats, which do have more cushion and support, was $1700 (according to them).
• In an effort to get out of the house as quickly as possible, I had not eaten lunch. I thought we'd be at the dealer an hour tops and then we'd go out to lunch. My blood sugar fell below optimal levels and the last hour and a half or so I had the shakes. (We were there from 2:30-6:30.)
• It took awhile for us to figure out the new and shifting figures. Cap was very patient with me and the process, and Edwin and his boss (who had his own boss he kept having to consult with...oy) were very patient, as well. Luckily, I had done enough research and printing out of research to bring with us, that we were able to ascertain that their final offer ($2000 less than their initial offer) was a solidly reasonable price for the car. We didn't pay a dime for the leather, in the end!
• It took me awhile to get my head around the fact that the Consumers Report "good" price didn't include local taxes and fees (none of which are avoidable). Since we had borrowed the money (from my parents) on this pre-taxes and fees figure, of the base model, no less, Cap and I had to consider thoughtfully, yet on-the-fly, how much we felt we could go into our savings to cover the difference.
• Though we were looking at $2000 less than their initial offer and the final price was within the 5% above what the dealer paid for the car (not counting the leather...they eventually took that cost off the table), which defined a solidly good "Consumer Reports" price...we had to consider taking $3700 out of our present savings.
• This all took four hours...on empty stomachs. Anxiety, adrenalin, excitement, relief, joy...what a chemical cocktail.
I really wasn't sure it was going to happen today. And I was okay with that, though with each passing hour I hoped that it would. And then it did. Phew.
This was the only shot I took while it was light out. More soon.
P.S. I am nervous about driving this car. I declined to test drive it. I will be taking it slow...tomorrow Cap will be gone all day with the Subaru (which we've decided to keep through the Summer so Cap can drive himself about in it for his summer job which often requires him to be in multiple locations in a single day)...if I venture forth to forage for food I'll have to drive it.
P.P.S Cap and I have named our two previous cars...this one doesn't have a name yet.
DW : : Prep week
Took a shower, which always feels good. Weighed myself knowing I've gained weight and I have...10-15 lbs. have crept back on...5 of them easily in the last seven days.
(I am realizing my body is very sensitive to inflammation. And that changing my diet is simply not enough. Stress causes inflammation, too. I'm thinking triangulating between Paleo-y diet - practicing Qigong/walking - self-care as a highly sensitive is where I'd like to get myself to this Spring and into the Summer.)
Rather than flitting and fretting about what may or may not happen this afternoon in regards to the new car, I decided to sit down and take/make notes on my Dragon's Way. For ten minutes. Before making lunch for the kids.
During Preparation Week:
• eliminate meat, fish and dairy from diet
I've been eating down my dairy. As luck would have it, I've just discovered how fabulous Kerrygold Garlic Herb butter is. I am trying to enjoy it as much as possible and not dwell on the fact that I won't be eating it for awhile after this weekend. I don't eat much fish (though I'm thinking I'd like some sushi this weekend) and I have little desire for meat these days so no issues there.
• get 7-8 hours of sleep every night and squeeze in a nap if you can
This hasn't been happening, despite my being so tired all week.What is wrong with me?! I am going to try to follow through on the intention to increase my sleep this weekend and continue to do so for the next six weeks.
• find some time to do nothing
This has not happened. See above.
• enjoy a "last meal" of favorite foods
This I have been doing non-stop since last Friday. The issue here is instead of remembering it was supposed to be one last meal, I have been quite focused on eating whatever "prohibited" food (emphasis mine) one last time. After a week of bacchanalia I feel pretty shitty.
• start keeping a journal
I'm doing that here. I hope to keep it up this time.
• practice (the dreaded) Dragon Stands Between Heaven and Earth every day for as long as you can
Oops. I forgot that this was part of Preparation Week.
(I am realizing my body is very sensitive to inflammation. And that changing my diet is simply not enough. Stress causes inflammation, too. I'm thinking triangulating between Paleo-y diet - practicing Qigong/walking - self-care as a highly sensitive is where I'd like to get myself to this Spring and into the Summer.)
Rather than flitting and fretting about what may or may not happen this afternoon in regards to the new car, I decided to sit down and take/make notes on my Dragon's Way. For ten minutes. Before making lunch for the kids.
During Preparation Week:
• eliminate meat, fish and dairy from diet
I've been eating down my dairy. As luck would have it, I've just discovered how fabulous Kerrygold Garlic Herb butter is. I am trying to enjoy it as much as possible and not dwell on the fact that I won't be eating it for awhile after this weekend. I don't eat much fish (though I'm thinking I'd like some sushi this weekend) and I have little desire for meat these days so no issues there.
• get 7-8 hours of sleep every night and squeeze in a nap if you can
This hasn't been happening, despite my being so tired all week.
• find some time to do nothing
This has not happened. See above.
• enjoy a "last meal" of favorite foods
This I have been doing non-stop since last Friday. The issue here is instead of remembering it was supposed to be one last meal, I have been quite focused on eating whatever "prohibited" food (emphasis mine) one last time. After a week of bacchanalia I feel pretty shitty.
• start keeping a journal
I'm doing that here. I hope to keep it up this time.
• practice (the dreaded) Dragon Stands Between Heaven and Earth every day for as long as you can
Oops. I forgot that this was part of Preparation Week.
Feels like sabotage
I've noticed that every time I start the Dragon's Way, I go whole hog in the opposite direction. (Except for the first time...this did not happen then.) I don't know what it means, what explains it. I do know it makes it that much harder to really get going. And, I believe, that excepting for the first time, I have never fully committed to the program.
I can feel resistance to my resistance this time.
I want to sabotage my self-sabotage.
Double negative is a positive.
(How bad it's gotten: as our time in Philly came to a close, I said to Cap. time to tighten the belt! and then proceeded to get takeout for dinner three out of the past four nights. consolation: I have been feeding the kids healthily.)
Something I'd like to learn along the way this next while...how to more effectively...no, a better word here would be authentically...or deeply...or truly...or all the above...restore myself through solitude. I could have planned better for this week, but I didn't. And my "alone" time (my timeout from the outside world...I barely had time away from the kids) was spent escaping rather than recharging.
Awareness, recognition, is the first step.
One of my obstacles is that despite being an introvert, I am highly interpersonal. Backtrack. That is not an obstacle. That is simply who I am. The obstacle is that I can and do use social media to connect interpersonally with friends and friendly folk (no matter the ethereal quality of these connections, they feed me in ways that seem to matter). And my screen time tends to blot out using my time in different ways, that would be more restorative to my body, mind and spirit.
Like sleeping. Or practicing. Or reading. Or hanging out with my kids or partner with my laptop closed. Or taking a walk.
I blog (and am currently subscribed to 88 blogs in my Google Reader), I Facebook, I Twitter, I Goodreads, I Flickr. (Jamie, see how right you are? I am thus far resisting Pinterest.)
I do think about taking an internet break. But, it would be a drastic change. It feels catastrophic in proportion...which may be a reason to shake things up a bit. Where's the good, the healthy, the balance, in living with the specter of catastrophe? And, honestly, there's an all-or-nothing attraction to excising something that feels so essential.
I have felt this way, at other times, about tv. And clutter.
I also have had thoughts like: this would be easier to do/not do if I didn't have the kids to think of...alternating with understanding that it is because I have kids that I want to do/not do certain things...alternating with realizing that it is since having kids that my life has changed in some deeply traumatic ways.
(I don't blame them and I am living my dream. I have always wanted kids and feel very lucky to be a parent. What I am talking about here is just how big a deal it can be to have children...in terms of time, energy and resources. I happen to be someone who has had significant personal growing to do as an adult. Having kids has been a mix of hindering and helping. But, I suppose everything and/or anything can be perceived in such ways. And, ultimately, it is best to observe and not dwell. What matters is that you keep moving.)
Spring, Spring. A time of growth and change and birth so intense it sometimes feels furious. My personal is inevitably tied into our family and so my full plate is not purely my own. Which is of my choosing, but still weighs me down. I don't resent it (a sign of development...I used to much more), but I do long for solitude in a more intense way...the simplification of a unit of one, in order to reconnect again with others in the web, with peace and presence and intention.
Next up for me/the family:
• buying a car (and all that entails...process has been going on for awhile, hoping to close the deal soon)
• Dragon's Way (and all that entails: practicing every day, adjusting diet, attending class)
• singing up for Ane Axford's online program
• lunchbox art project
• continuing to think about monitor the kids' food stuff
• returning to more structured home school schedule after a vacation week "off"
• dealing with a fast filling schedule of busy weekends into June
• continuing with apartment declutter
• the basement declutter
• revamping household budget and finance running
Am I whining? About first world problems? These are most definitely first world problems...but I hope I am not whining. I am teetering on feeling buried and there was some self-loathing creeping in this morning. Getting these thoughts out and down "on paper" has helped. As has the Earl Grey with the last of my Barcelona honey.
I can feel resistance to my resistance this time.
I want to sabotage my self-sabotage.
Double negative is a positive.
(How bad it's gotten: as our time in Philly came to a close, I said to Cap. time to tighten the belt! and then proceeded to get takeout for dinner three out of the past four nights. consolation: I have been feeding the kids healthily.)
Something I'd like to learn along the way this next while...how to more effectively...no, a better word here would be authentically...or deeply...or truly...or all the above...restore myself through solitude. I could have planned better for this week, but I didn't. And my "alone" time (my timeout from the outside world...I barely had time away from the kids) was spent escaping rather than recharging.
Awareness, recognition, is the first step.
One of my obstacles is that despite being an introvert, I am highly interpersonal. Backtrack. That is not an obstacle. That is simply who I am. The obstacle is that I can and do use social media to connect interpersonally with friends and friendly folk (no matter the ethereal quality of these connections, they feed me in ways that seem to matter). And my screen time tends to blot out using my time in different ways, that would be more restorative to my body, mind and spirit.
Like sleeping. Or practicing. Or reading. Or hanging out with my kids or partner with my laptop closed. Or taking a walk.
I blog (and am currently subscribed to 88 blogs in my Google Reader), I Facebook, I Twitter, I Goodreads, I Flickr. (Jamie, see how right you are? I am thus far resisting Pinterest.)
I do think about taking an internet break. But, it would be a drastic change. It feels catastrophic in proportion...which may be a reason to shake things up a bit. Where's the good, the healthy, the balance, in living with the specter of catastrophe? And, honestly, there's an all-or-nothing attraction to excising something that feels so essential.
I have felt this way, at other times, about tv. And clutter.
I also have had thoughts like: this would be easier to do/not do if I didn't have the kids to think of...alternating with understanding that it is because I have kids that I want to do/not do certain things...alternating with realizing that it is since having kids that my life has changed in some deeply traumatic ways.
(I don't blame them and I am living my dream. I have always wanted kids and feel very lucky to be a parent. What I am talking about here is just how big a deal it can be to have children...in terms of time, energy and resources. I happen to be someone who has had significant personal growing to do as an adult. Having kids has been a mix of hindering and helping. But, I suppose everything and/or anything can be perceived in such ways. And, ultimately, it is best to observe and not dwell. What matters is that you keep moving.)
Spring, Spring. A time of growth and change and birth so intense it sometimes feels furious. My personal is inevitably tied into our family and so my full plate is not purely my own. Which is of my choosing, but still weighs me down. I don't resent it (a sign of development...I used to much more), but I do long for solitude in a more intense way...the simplification of a unit of one, in order to reconnect again with others in the web, with peace and presence and intention.
Next up for me/the family:
• buying a car (and all that entails...process has been going on for awhile, hoping to close the deal soon)
• Dragon's Way (and all that entails: practicing every day, adjusting diet, attending class)
• singing up for Ane Axford's online program
• lunchbox art project
• continuing to think about monitor the kids' food stuff
• returning to more structured home school schedule after a vacation week "off"
• dealing with a fast filling schedule of busy weekends into June
• continuing with apartment declutter
• the basement declutter
• revamping household budget and finance running
Am I whining? About first world problems? These are most definitely first world problems...but I hope I am not whining. I am teetering on feeling buried and there was some self-loathing creeping in this morning. Getting these thoughts out and down "on paper" has helped. As has the Earl Grey with the last of my Barcelona honey.
Peace and love.
Thursday, April 19, 2012
Growing
In the last few weeks, I have been noticing subtle, positive shifts in Gem's appetite and energy. I think there is photographic evidence of these changes, too. Have a look...
April 1.
April 7.
April 15.
His coloring has improved. He still has his moments of melancholy or anxiety, as we all do, but he seems happier. He is definitely more affectionate. I've been receiving lots of hugs and kisses. Clearly, he is feeling a lot of gratitude.
This week, I asked him to weigh himself. I was curious to see if he'd gained any weight. He had. Over five pounds since we discovered he hadn't gained any weight since last Summer. (It is possible he had gained some, but then lost it during his on again off again month-plus battling viruses this Winter.)
It could be a coincidence, but I do rather think the near daily doses of fish oil and protein-rich smoothies have made an impact. I wonder if the fish oil has helped to kick start something metabolically...or if it simply is a matter of increased protein/fat (I usually put hemp powder and almond butter in the smoothie).
Maybe it has more to do with timing. Fall and Winter brought some virus-y times for him. But, now it is Spring and he is unfurling into the season. Organically and beautifully.
It is okay that it can't be explained or analyzed to solution. I am simply happy. For him and for us.
Philly: the food
Food is a big deal to me. I love eating yummy stuff, I enjoy the hunting and gathering (as far removed from primitive methods as it may be), I can spend hours in a kitchen, happily, cooking. When I travel, what I will eat while there definitely comes into play in my planning.
Conversely, I will travel, in order to eat something good.
It is genetic. I remember vividly a drive my family of birth took in the vicinity of Yosemite one December, long ago. My dad was questing for a legendary menudo he had heard of. So there we were, my sister and I getting more car sick by the minute, taking hairpin curves, being barred entry on certain roads for lack of chains...but we made it, to a very simple, local storefront. Hours from where we started in the Bay area. My dad got his menudo. He was happy, all was well. (I don't remember what I ate.)
Sag has the DNA. When we began plotting out our Philly trip, trying an authentic Philly cheesesteak was high on his list. It turned out to be the first thing we did.
Gem, as most of you know, has multiple food allergies. Traveling, for/with him, has historically meant hours of pre-planning and preparing GFCF food. It also meant assembling appropriate storage and transport containers for the food. It also meant ascertaining the availability of meal prep facilities at each location. It also meant that he would almost always be eating the bulk of his meal not off-the-menu...and out of various Tupperwares we would pull out of a cooler bag.
Philly was different. Philly rocked.
I did spend hours researching eating options. And I did book a hotel room that came with a fridge and microwave, just in case. But, as it turned out, Gem ate every single meal from or at a restaurant that was able to provide safely GFCF food. I didn't pre-make or pack any food for him this trip. I still can't quite believe it.
See it and believe. Here are the food photos:
Lunch, Friday : :
We drove from home directly to John's Roast Pork. When we arrived it was the tail end of the lunch rush. They are old school: cash only, no seats inside and they close at 3pm. I had the cheese steak with provolone and sweet peppers and mayo. I plucked the innards out of the bread with chopsticks. It was delicious. Really tasty and satisfying. The steak was so tender and flavorful.
Sag ordered the pizza steak. He enjoyed it, but, he thought a "cheese steak" sandwich was going to be a slab of steak with cheese melted on top. He also felt this sandwich did not have as much sauce or cheese on it as he'd have liked.
After we picked up our cheese steak subs (and chewable Claritin for Sag at the Target across the street), we drove up to Sushi Planet. Gem and Cap picked up their sushi lunch. We continued on to the comic book store. The tiny green square on the map near the store turned out to be the courtyard of the historic Christ Church. What a score: bench seating under Spring trees in bloom and a visitor center with clean bathrooms, to boot. (The $50 parking ticket was not so good, but it was better than being towed which, apparently, we only closely avoided having parked in a spot reserved for tour buses.)
Dinner, Friday : :
Sag loves strawberry shakes. This was the first of three he had over the weekend. We had dinner at Bobby's Burger Palace in Cherry Hill, NJ. After the comic book store, we drove over the Ben Franklin bridge back into New Jersey. We stayed in Mount Laurel, about 15-20 minutes outside of Philly. The hotels in this area were less expensive compared to the hotels in downtown Philly, had free parking, and pools.
There is a swanky big mall in nearby Cherry Hill. On Friday night we had dinner on one side of the mall and then walked across the pedestrian bridge to the other side of the mall and saw The Three Stooges. It was a fun night. (The movie, which I had low expectations of, far exceeded those expectations. It was funny, we all enjoyed it a lot.)
I had the L.A. burger. Topped with watercress and an avocado relish and...I don't remember what kind of cheese that was. You can order any burger without a bun ("topless") and then it will come on a bed of spring greens dressed with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette. This was very good and quite satisfying.
Seeing this picture makes me so happy. It was incredibly uplifting being there and watching him eat. This was the meal he enjoyed the most. (We returned on Sunday for lunch at is request.) He had a burger, topless, which we put in a GF bun we brought with us. The fries at BBP are gluten-free.
Breakfast, Saturday : :
One of my very favorite things to do is to go out to breakfast. And in my opinion, you can't beat a good diner breakfast (so good they serve it all day!) Saturday morning, we drove back to the Cherry Hill mall and had breakfast at Silver Diner. (Strawberry milkshake #2.)
They serve coffee roasted locally in Pennsauken, NJ. Their ingredients are locally sourced and they have seasonal menus.
I finally was able to satisfy my months long craving for corned beef hash. Though I must say, the absolute star of this excellent plate, was the side of home fries. Being Paleo-ish, I tend to stay away from white potatoes. But, these spuds were scrumptious.
Here is Gem's breakfast plate. They make GF waffles! And the bacon was safe to eat. (Bacon is typically GF, but can fall victim to cross-contamination depending on how/where they are cooked.) Again, it makes me so happy to gaze upon this photo. Our Gem was able to order a dish like this, off a menu, in a diner.
Lunch, Saturday : :
After breakfast, we drove into Philly. We parked on the street and went to the Academy of Natural Sciences. We also frolicked at the Swann Memorial Fountain. Then, we met up with Cap's dear old friend Melissa and her husband, Pierce. We met at Underdogs.
He was hungry and ordered two hotdogs. You can order your hotdog with a gluten-free bun. The buns are baked hyperlocally, right in town. I ordered the Coney Island with GF bun, pictured above. Yum.
Pilgrimage, Saturday : :
High on my private things-to-do was a visit to Sweet Freedom Bakery. I lucked out, it was literally on the way from Underdogs to the Phillies' stadium. (I was not as lucky with yarn shops.)
My oh my oh my oh my. No white sugar!!! Because of my Paleoish ways, I would not have stopped in if they didn't use sugar alternatives. I was the proverbial kid in a candy store. The donut was consumed in the car. It was delish. What it lacked in the gluten-y pull apart quality of a wheat donut, it more than made up for in moistness and flavor. It had substance without being dense at all.
The Fauxtess cupcake was enjoyed as a midnight snack Saturday night. I was tossing and turning (I did not sleep well either night), too hot, too cold...and I suddenly remembered the cupcakes in the fridge (the fridge did come in handy). For a few seconds I contemplated the wisdom of a Fauxtess cupcake in the middle of the night when I was already having trouble relaxing...but I threw caution to the wind and, man, that was a satisfying few minutes of sugar-free, allergen-free culinary heaven.
The blueberry filled lemon cupcake with lemon frosting was consumed for breakfast Sunday morning. Post-pool and pre-check out. It was my favorite of the three. The frosting was out of this world, replete with the best qualities of what you would imagine lemon frosting to have. The cupcake held up incredibly well after a night of refrigeration. And the blueberry filling just tipped it over the edge. It was a dollop of wonderful. So good.
Gem ordered a vanilla cupcake with pink frosting. He thought it was okay. He did not finish it. He is not a fan of baked goods in general. He did like the chocolate chip banana bread which he enjoyed post-pool the next morning.
Specialty baked goods are not cheap. We paid $18 for five items. But, if you can afford it, I tell you, it was well worth every penny.
Ballpark, Saturday : :
It's pretty simple when we go to a ballpark. (Which we do a few times every year.) We pack some sort of snack for Gem in our bag (for the Phillies' game it was a bag of cookies), the kids share a cotton candy and Sag gets a hotdog.
He dug this one a lot. He said it was better than Fenway franks! (Thanks to godmama Jamie for the heads up: Fenway has started serving up their franks in gluten-free rolls this season. Gem is excited to have his first Fenway frank this Summer. The boy assumes we'll be going again...a special but very expensive tradition is born?)
Dinner, Saturday : :
We left the game after the seventh inning. It was a fairly slow game. We were going to leave after six, but the kids and I spent much of the sixth inning in a souvenir stand. For dinner, we headed to the The Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ.
Gem ordered the gluten-free chicken fingers and fries. The Pop Shop has a dedicated fryer for their gluten-free fare. If only everyone would do this...such a simple solution to avoid cross-contamination.
Every sandwich at The Pop Shop can be made with gluten-free bread. So I ordered the 5Bs which was an homage to Bobby Flay's grilled cheese Throwdown visit to the restaurant. The bread seemed homemade, but I didn't ask. The sandwich was comforting. Truly.
Post-pool snack, Sunday : :
Sunday morning, the kids wanted to hit the hotel pool. They chose that over breakfast. So we splashed about in the chlorine on empty stomachs. After showers, the kids noshed on leftover fries from dinner and chocolate chip banana bread from Sweet Freedom. I scarfed the blueberry filled lemon cupcake. They iPadded, we packed. Then, we checked out.
Lunch, Sunday : :
We headed back to Bobby's Burger Palace for lunch. The Cherry Hill mall was hopping at noon on a Sunday.
Gem's burger. Medium rare with an Udi's bun from home. (Sag, who is unafraid of rare meat, found the medium rare at BBP too rare. Medium well was the best match for him.)
I split an order of fries with Gem (continuously falling off the Paleo wagon by this point, really) and they were tasty.
After lunch, we drove to Camden and the Adventure Aquarium. We explored the aquarium for a couple of hours. It was great to avoid the crowded food court. We went back to Rita's, which was on the way to the highway, and the kids got their cool down snacks. It was hot!
Conversely, I will travel, in order to eat something good.
It is genetic. I remember vividly a drive my family of birth took in the vicinity of Yosemite one December, long ago. My dad was questing for a legendary menudo he had heard of. So there we were, my sister and I getting more car sick by the minute, taking hairpin curves, being barred entry on certain roads for lack of chains...but we made it, to a very simple, local storefront. Hours from where we started in the Bay area. My dad got his menudo. He was happy, all was well. (I don't remember what I ate.)
Sag has the DNA. When we began plotting out our Philly trip, trying an authentic Philly cheesesteak was high on his list. It turned out to be the first thing we did.
Gem, as most of you know, has multiple food allergies. Traveling, for/with him, has historically meant hours of pre-planning and preparing GFCF food. It also meant assembling appropriate storage and transport containers for the food. It also meant ascertaining the availability of meal prep facilities at each location. It also meant that he would almost always be eating the bulk of his meal not off-the-menu...and out of various Tupperwares we would pull out of a cooler bag.
Philly was different. Philly rocked.
I did spend hours researching eating options. And I did book a hotel room that came with a fridge and microwave, just in case. But, as it turned out, Gem ate every single meal from or at a restaurant that was able to provide safely GFCF food. I didn't pre-make or pack any food for him this trip. I still can't quite believe it.
See it and believe. Here are the food photos:
Lunch, Friday : :
We drove from home directly to John's Roast Pork. When we arrived it was the tail end of the lunch rush. They are old school: cash only, no seats inside and they close at 3pm. I had the cheese steak with provolone and sweet peppers and mayo. I plucked the innards out of the bread with chopsticks. It was delicious. Really tasty and satisfying. The steak was so tender and flavorful.
Sag ordered the pizza steak. He enjoyed it, but, he thought a "cheese steak" sandwich was going to be a slab of steak with cheese melted on top. He also felt this sandwich did not have as much sauce or cheese on it as he'd have liked.
After we picked up our cheese steak subs (and chewable Claritin for Sag at the Target across the street), we drove up to Sushi Planet. Gem and Cap picked up their sushi lunch. We continued on to the comic book store. The tiny green square on the map near the store turned out to be the courtyard of the historic Christ Church. What a score: bench seating under Spring trees in bloom and a visitor center with clean bathrooms, to boot. (The $50 parking ticket was not so good, but it was better than being towed which, apparently, we only closely avoided having parked in a spot reserved for tour buses.)
Dinner, Friday : :
Sag loves strawberry shakes. This was the first of three he had over the weekend. We had dinner at Bobby's Burger Palace in Cherry Hill, NJ. After the comic book store, we drove over the Ben Franklin bridge back into New Jersey. We stayed in Mount Laurel, about 15-20 minutes outside of Philly. The hotels in this area were less expensive compared to the hotels in downtown Philly, had free parking, and pools.
There is a swanky big mall in nearby Cherry Hill. On Friday night we had dinner on one side of the mall and then walked across the pedestrian bridge to the other side of the mall and saw The Three Stooges. It was a fun night. (The movie, which I had low expectations of, far exceeded those expectations. It was funny, we all enjoyed it a lot.)
I had the L.A. burger. Topped with watercress and an avocado relish and...I don't remember what kind of cheese that was. You can order any burger without a bun ("topless") and then it will come on a bed of spring greens dressed with a tasty balsamic vinaigrette. This was very good and quite satisfying.
Seeing this picture makes me so happy. It was incredibly uplifting being there and watching him eat. This was the meal he enjoyed the most. (We returned on Sunday for lunch at is request.) He had a burger, topless, which we put in a GF bun we brought with us. The fries at BBP are gluten-free.
After the movie, we hightailed it to the local Rita's and got in line with the closing time rush. A sweet nightcap. Sag chided me on the small tree that died for all my Google maps printouts, but they sure got the job done. We made our way from one place to another very smoothly. (We don't have a GPS.)
Breakfast, Saturday : :
One of my very favorite things to do is to go out to breakfast. And in my opinion, you can't beat a good diner breakfast (so good they serve it all day!) Saturday morning, we drove back to the Cherry Hill mall and had breakfast at Silver Diner. (Strawberry milkshake #2.)
They serve coffee roasted locally in Pennsauken, NJ. Their ingredients are locally sourced and they have seasonal menus.
I finally was able to satisfy my months long craving for corned beef hash. Though I must say, the absolute star of this excellent plate, was the side of home fries. Being Paleo-ish, I tend to stay away from white potatoes. But, these spuds were scrumptious.
Here is Gem's breakfast plate. They make GF waffles! And the bacon was safe to eat. (Bacon is typically GF, but can fall victim to cross-contamination depending on how/where they are cooked.) Again, it makes me so happy to gaze upon this photo. Our Gem was able to order a dish like this, off a menu, in a diner.
Lunch, Saturday : :
After breakfast, we drove into Philly. We parked on the street and went to the Academy of Natural Sciences. We also frolicked at the Swann Memorial Fountain. Then, we met up with Cap's dear old friend Melissa and her husband, Pierce. We met at Underdogs.
He was hungry and ordered two hotdogs. You can order your hotdog with a gluten-free bun. The buns are baked hyperlocally, right in town. I ordered the Coney Island with GF bun, pictured above. Yum.
Pilgrimage, Saturday : :
High on my private things-to-do was a visit to Sweet Freedom Bakery. I lucked out, it was literally on the way from Underdogs to the Phillies' stadium. (I was not as lucky with yarn shops.)
My oh my oh my oh my. No white sugar!!! Because of my Paleoish ways, I would not have stopped in if they didn't use sugar alternatives. I was the proverbial kid in a candy store. The donut was consumed in the car. It was delish. What it lacked in the gluten-y pull apart quality of a wheat donut, it more than made up for in moistness and flavor. It had substance without being dense at all.
The Fauxtess cupcake was enjoyed as a midnight snack Saturday night. I was tossing and turning (I did not sleep well either night), too hot, too cold...and I suddenly remembered the cupcakes in the fridge (the fridge did come in handy). For a few seconds I contemplated the wisdom of a Fauxtess cupcake in the middle of the night when I was already having trouble relaxing...but I threw caution to the wind and, man, that was a satisfying few minutes of sugar-free, allergen-free culinary heaven.
The blueberry filled lemon cupcake with lemon frosting was consumed for breakfast Sunday morning. Post-pool and pre-check out. It was my favorite of the three. The frosting was out of this world, replete with the best qualities of what you would imagine lemon frosting to have. The cupcake held up incredibly well after a night of refrigeration. And the blueberry filling just tipped it over the edge. It was a dollop of wonderful. So good.
Gem ordered a vanilla cupcake with pink frosting. He thought it was okay. He did not finish it. He is not a fan of baked goods in general. He did like the chocolate chip banana bread which he enjoyed post-pool the next morning.
Specialty baked goods are not cheap. We paid $18 for five items. But, if you can afford it, I tell you, it was well worth every penny.
Ballpark, Saturday : :
It's pretty simple when we go to a ballpark. (Which we do a few times every year.) We pack some sort of snack for Gem in our bag (for the Phillies' game it was a bag of cookies), the kids share a cotton candy and Sag gets a hotdog.
He dug this one a lot. He said it was better than Fenway franks! (Thanks to godmama Jamie for the heads up: Fenway has started serving up their franks in gluten-free rolls this season. Gem is excited to have his first Fenway frank this Summer. The boy assumes we'll be going again...a special but very expensive tradition is born?)
Dinner, Saturday : :
We left the game after the seventh inning. It was a fairly slow game. We were going to leave after six, but the kids and I spent much of the sixth inning in a souvenir stand. For dinner, we headed to the The Pop Shop in Collingswood, NJ.
Strawberry shake #3. And English muffin pizza. Sag loved all the fun of eating out/eating favorite foods. But, it is really hard for him to stop when full. He is also like me in this way. If something tastes good and there's more of it on the table/plate, we keep eating. He kept getting stomachaches from over stuffing himself and asked us to help him modulate. So when he said he wanted the milkshake, we recommended going with the English muffin pizza rather than the cheeseburger.
Gem ordered the gluten-free chicken fingers and fries. The Pop Shop has a dedicated fryer for their gluten-free fare. If only everyone would do this...such a simple solution to avoid cross-contamination.
Every sandwich at The Pop Shop can be made with gluten-free bread. So I ordered the 5Bs which was an homage to Bobby Flay's grilled cheese Throwdown visit to the restaurant. The bread seemed homemade, but I didn't ask. The sandwich was comforting. Truly.
Post-pool snack, Sunday : :
Sunday morning, the kids wanted to hit the hotel pool. They chose that over breakfast. So we splashed about in the chlorine on empty stomachs. After showers, the kids noshed on leftover fries from dinner and chocolate chip banana bread from Sweet Freedom. I scarfed the blueberry filled lemon cupcake. They iPadded, we packed. Then, we checked out.
Lunch, Sunday : :
We headed back to Bobby's Burger Palace for lunch. The Cherry Hill mall was hopping at noon on a Sunday.
Gem's burger. Medium rare with an Udi's bun from home. (Sag, who is unafraid of rare meat, found the medium rare at BBP too rare. Medium well was the best match for him.)
I split an order of fries with Gem (continuously falling off the Paleo wagon by this point, really) and they were tasty.
After lunch, we drove to Camden and the Adventure Aquarium. We explored the aquarium for a couple of hours. It was great to avoid the crowded food court. We went back to Rita's, which was on the way to the highway, and the kids got their cool down snacks. It was hot!
We drove back home, through heavy traffic much of the way, in good spirits. Our Philly car-cation was nourishing in so many ways. But, to have had such excellent food adventures was uniquely and deeply satisfying. Thank you, Philadelphia/Cherry Hill/Collingswood!
(Holy crap that took a long time to compile. I don't know when the next Philly post will come, I'm exhausted!)
Peace and love.
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