ksylvan's Friends

Before the kids get home. If you want to get technical, I actually have 1hr and 15 minutes. Just enough time to get out of my jammies (pale pink sweats and huge baggy red/pink t-shirt), and into some walking clothes. Yes, I am going to go for an hour walk, the first since September!

Here's what I have to show for the day thus far:

• planned the youth group games for tonight
• did dishes
• make muffins
• did dishes again
• tidied up the kitchen and greater living room area
• made a birthday cake for one of the youth group helpers
• did more dishes
• 30 day shred

What I didn't do...

• sorted through clothes
• vacuum
• change oil in deep fryer

But that's ok, I can do that stuff tomorrow (as I have the day off then, too!)

eta

Eats:

• breakfast- raisin and spice oatmeal- 170
• snack- 2 mini muffins (160)
• lunch- 10" wrap (160), 1T PB (100), deli sliced ham (50)
• snack- granola bar (140), mini muffin (80)
• total in (as of 1530)- 860

Activity

• 30 day shred- 141
• 1hr walk- 200
• total burned (as of 1530)- 341

1534 (RMR)+ 341= 1875- 860= 1015- 500 (deficit)= 515 left for the day.

Art of the Season:  J.E.H MacDonald - Canadian Group of Seven

Algoma Waterfall ~ J. E. H. MacDonald, 1920 (worth clicking for large image)

I had a nice Sunday.  I baked Bill a spice cake and decided not to do the boiled caramel icing.  He's been complaining that rich food bothers his stomach, and the ingredients of that icing are cream, butter, brown sugar.  We had a piece and it really didn't need the icing.  I sent the rest home with him.

Later in the evening I had a nice phone call from one of my best friends.  Her latest temp job has ended and the possibilty of work before the beginning of next year is bleak for her.  With her skills (types 60 WPM with no mistakes, knows all the office computer programs, is a data entry wiz, etc) I can't understand why one of these companies don't hire her.  We did have a good talk and promise to visit.

Plan for Today:  Make phone calls to insurance companies.  Do paperwork to turn into the office on the 25th - isn't it nice they gave me 3 days?  The envelope was shoved under my door last night at about 7 pm.  Gotta love 'em.

Menu for Today:  Breakfast - oat bran flakes, blueberries, milk.  Lunch - half a tomato & cheese sandwich and vegetable soup.  Supper - ground beef, tomato and cabbage casserole.  Snacks - tangerine, apple, yogurt.

The forecast is for rain by noon and a high of 48 F, 9 C.  Not my favorite kind of weather at all.  Hope I don't have to go out, but that depends on when the doctor can fit me in this week.  He wanted to see me in one week, but his receptionist never called me back with a time. 

Today:  Hibernate. 

Already tired of it!  The day's not even here, and I want my relatives the hel out of here.  And they are going completly nuts over the food, and I just don't see any reason for it all.  I'm just gonna fix a few things, and they want something else, they can make it, or bring it. 

My mind is in shambles right now.  Acting like a child when there is serious work to be done.  But tomorrow is a new day, and the plan is to put the plastic on the small greenhouse.  I'm pretty scared by all this.  I know I got the time and talent, but can I keep it together mentally to make this thing work. 

Its nuts, but if I don't really try, that means no one can say I failed, I just didn't try.  I know, I too wonder why the state of Indiana lets me walk around loose either.  Afraid to fail, afraid to succeed.  If that ain't nuts, WTF is? 

Gotta show some faith here.  Some faith in my God's, that if I am industrious and hard working I will succeed.  Some faith in the community to support my efforts, and some faith in myself.  The last one is damn near impossible. 

My mind is scrambbled by the hopelessness of it all.  I am awash in sadness, and I simply don't know what to do about it.  Nothing to do but keep on keeping on I guess. 

But what happens when I fall apart next spring?  Ah well.  Maybe best just to sell the place now, and move to somewhere I can't do any damage.

I'm never going to get past this.  Where's death when ya need it.

Here are a few things I found out today:

• our church choir will be singing at an annual Christmas music community thing this Wednesday. What?? Don't they realize what date that is? The 25th (or close enough- I'm not going to bother with the math :P)...of NOVEMBER?? Noey and Keyto will be playing Joseph and Mary during the presentation. It will be fine, as long as Keyto doesn't touch Noey's head. She would say in a really loud voice: "don't touch me!!".
  
• our church choir is presenting our annual Christmas music thingy (for lack of a better word that's not coming to me atm) on December the 6th at 630pm. The same night as my husbands staff Christmas party, of which he is expected to attend. Normally I'd tell the choir director that I can't be there for the Christmas presentation and go to the party, but I'm singing a solo and have to be there for that reason. I predict this will not have a happy outcome.
• My son's Christmas party for cadets is December 12th at 6pm. So is my staff Christmas party, which will be held in our community this year (other years it's been in town at a restaurant but this year it's at the local Lions Club and is being catered). The parents of cadets are expected to assist with the donation of everything needed for the meal, set up, serving, and clean up. We can donate, but we won't be there for the rest. Hopefully my parents will be willing to not only take him into the party, but to watch the 2 littluns as well.

Still yet to plan:

• Church Christmas get-together. Maybe December 19th? Maybe have a Chinese food potluck meal, board games and a Christmas movie? Whatever it is, it's always lots of fun and laughs.
  
• Christmas party for the church youth group. Maybe December 18th? I imagine it'll be the same as it always is: pizza, pop, chips, holiday sweets, games, maybe a movie. They're all asking for a sleepover, but after the last one (in June), I think not. They remember it as awesome, but it was not awesome at all! lol- If they really think that we'll have another all nighter, that says 1 of 2 things; either they think I'm crazy or they are crazy! Kinky wants to have it at the church with this big production and a big screen movie of 'It's a wonderful life'. Right!

I've been meaning to share this for awhile (but have always forgotten): it appears I may have kicked the Coke Zero habit! I used to have at least 1 can a day (for the past year+) but I haven't had a can for 3 weeks now! Mind you, I'm still hopped up on Crystal Light, but one vice at a time.

I was actually able to cook a little yesterday.  I made a pot of turkey stock which was easy because I just cut the vegetables in chunks instead of chopping.  I let it cool and it's in the refrigerator.  When Bill comes this afternoon he'll help me strain it and will wash the pot.  What could be easier?

It was his birthday Friday so this morning I'm baking his favorite - spice cake with caramel frosting.  He is impossible to buy for so I give him what will make him happy, usually a cake or once a freezer full of home made goodies.  He can't cook so he loves it.

We had a sort of impromtu gathering in the afternoon.  Some women made crockpot chili and invited us all to watch a video of one of the past talent shows and share dinner.  I had a great time mostly because it was early in the day before I felt tired.  My neighbor was in this one.  I knew that she was a professional ballroom dancer in her day, but I didn't know she could sing.  We have an idea for a skit for the next talent show, if there ever is one.

Plan for today:  Bake the cake (it's an easy one) make the icing (also easy) and then be quiet and rest until Bill gets here.

Menu for today - breakfast - high fiber cereal, milk, blueberries.  Lunch - tomato and cheese sandwich with lots of tomato and very little cheese, and a cup of vegetable soup.  Supper - turkey (some of the meat I roasted for the stock) sweet potato, spinach. 

I hope the forecast is right today - lots of sunshine.  There are just a few stray leaves left on the oaks and sweet gums.  It's looking wintry out there but we have only had very slight frost at night.  I can't believe that we haven't had a killing frost this late in November. 

Today:  Show the one you love how much you appreciate him, or her.   

I got a lot done yesterday and wore myself out in the process.  In the morning I met with the volunteer insurance advisor from the dept of ageing.  He gave me lots of good information and now I need to make some calls and gather some information before making a decision.  I'd like to have it all done by December 15. 

After that I stopped at the supermarket pharmacy to pick up my prescription and decided to get a few supplies.  They had just baked the whole wheat bread I like for sandwiches so I had them slice me a loaf.  Love fresh bread.

I sat in the lobby to catch my breath then got my cart out to the car, groceries into the cart and back inside.  I simply ran out of steam at that point, so I sat there and chatted for a good half hour the took everything home and put it away.  Then I collapsed into my recliner and fell asleep.

Bubba was restless last night.  He wouldn't let me go to sleep and finally nipped me when I pushed him away.  Then he went on a tear, running and chasing jingle balls.  I must remember to always find them and put them away at night.  He's not usually like that.  I wonder what got into him.

Plan for today:  The visiting nurse will be here but I don't know what time.  I plan to chop some vegetables for turkey stock but I don't want to start it until Tuesday when Lesley is here to help me with the heavy pot and clean up.  The stock is for me to have with the leftovers I'm planning to bring home.  There's never enough gravy!

Menu for today:  breakfast - mushroom and spinach omelette.  Lunch - tuna sandwich and salad.  Supper - pasta with meat sauce, salad.  Snacks - yogurt, fruit, rice cakes, maybe peanut butter if I need the calories at the end of the day.

Yesterday was nice and sunny and it looks like the weekend will be the same, with rain blowing in later.  Of course that forecast can change at any moment.  The sound of people raking leaves is in the air.  Ours are piling up because the landscapers haven't been here in two weeks.  They did a lousy job this year and I'm betting that next year there will be a new company doing the job.

The Canada geese are on the move.  Some fly south and then more fly in from up north in the belief that this is the sunny southland.  I guess compared to Canada it is.  I love seeing the big vee shaped formations in the sky. 

Today:  Spend some time with your pets. 

KD is Kraft Dinner, aka Macaroni and Cheese, for my American friends :)

Yes, last night was a lazy supper night, made KD. I don't know about you guys, but it usually doesn't interest me much at all. It's just silly empty calories that doesn't even taste that great. Why eat it when there's so many other tasty ways to blow a diet?

But last night, the noodles were cooked to perfection (al dente), and I put just the right amount of milk in...it looked very tempting. I actually had this thought:

"I could sit down in front of the tv with this whole pot of KD and eat and eat and eat"

Of course, I didn't, never would. At least, these days I never would. Back in a day I would have without a second thought. Those were the days I could eat everything and anything in large quantities and occasionally step on the scales and say "oh gee, would you look at that! I lost a few pounds. huh!"

And would I go back to those days if I could? Heck yes!

I have a little secret to share...I don't really care that much about eating  healthy. If Whoppers and Big Macs had the same calories as salmon or broccoli, guess what I'd be eating? Hint- the only green food I'd consume would be the lettuce on my burger.

But I do eat healthy. Ish. Most of the time, anyways. And I do it because I can eat more healthy stuff than garbage food.

Shred update

19 torture sessions workouts in. I believe I have missed 4 days (2 after day 1 because I was so sore and short on spare time) and 2 days in the past week I think.

This morning while I was doing it, I started to sweat, so I decided to take my shirt off (I was alone and wearing a bra). I made the dreadful mistake of looking down at my belly while I was doing plank jacks. My belly fat hanging down and jiggling was spectacularly awful looking.

No more shirtless sessions for me!

Art of the Season by Millard Sheets, one of the California Watercolorists in the mid 20th century.

Fall Colors ~ Millard Sheets (click for larger image)

Aside from big problems with edema, Thursday was an ok day.  The nurse came and says my lungs are clear now but my feet and ankles are swollen.  Better there than the lungs.  She cleared me to drive for short distances.  I tried to keep to very low salt all day and I do see the difference this morning.

Plan for Today:  Appointment with an insurance counselor at 9.  Gale should be here by 8:10 and I'll come home to a spotless apartment.  No other plans for the day.

Menu for Today:  Breakfast - soft boiled egg on buttered toast with orange juice.  Lunch - waldorf salad, chicken.  Supper - don't know yet, maybe a pasta dish because I haven't had it for so long.  I've told people I don't need then to bring food because I can now putter around in the kitchen for short times. 

It seems to be a blustery kind of day.  The rain has stopped and the forecast is for sun, but I don't like the sound of that wind.  There are still leaves falling and the last color is the sweet gums and a few maples. 

Something is going on with the Crazy Lady.  My friend who lives directly across the hall and gets the brunt of all the disruptions, says that there were voices in her apartment last night.  Nobody ever comes to see her, so we're baffled.  I think the exterminator still comes to her apartment on Thursday.  We haven't seen any sign of bugs and she does look cleaner, so I hope she's getting some help from social services and the extra attention will keep her quiet and away from us.  My life here was so nice before she showed up.  It still is, but the constant disruption and a little fear has spoiled things. 

Today:  Protect yourself from the weather because it's cold out there. 

More Art of the Season from The Group of Seven of Canada:  Tom Thomson

Autumn Birches - Tom Thomson, 1914-1915

I had a good day on Wednesday.  I went to the coffee and visited for quite a while with some good friends.  I was very tired just walking down that long corridor, but it was worth it.  It's amazing how quickly I've formed friendships here.  Usually I am slow to accept people, but there's something about living in a close community that draws people together faster.  We do look out for each other. 

The food everyone fixed for me was delicious and I had three nice, very healthy meals.  However, I think there was more salt in something (of course it tasted good - it didn't need salt) because I had a lot of edema by last night.  This morning, after hopping up to go to the bathroom every hour or so, the weight seems to be down.  I'll find out at 8 when I weigh in using my remote monitor system.  I just hope my BP doesn't drop too much.  One thing at a time please!

Plan for today:  The visiting nurse will be here but I don't know what time.  I promised my friend that I'd type up and print a letter for her.  Other than that, no plans.

Menu for today:  Breakfast - peanut banana sandwich with milk.  Lunch - homemade chicken noodle soup and a salad.  Supper - roast chicken, brussels sprouts, peas & carrots.  Snacks - yogurt, fruit, rice cakes.

It was too cold yesterday to open the windows, but the sunshine kept the apartment nice and warm.  I haven't needed the heat on all month and have a chance for my actual cost to catch up with the budget payment.  Wonder how long that will last. 

Heavenlybody gave me a new way of looking at a problem - I badly want a new outfit for the holidays, but will have to spend that money on another hospital co-payment.  She says that if I wait until January, all the good stuff will go on sale and I can buy two!  What a great way to look at it and turn a negative into a positive.

Today:  Start Thanksgiving early and count your blessings. 

The center of most Thanksgiving dinners is, of course, the roasted turkey, glistening with juices, aromatic, golden brown and delicious.  Roasting the turkey perfectly is a learned skill, but it doesn't have to be a complicated procedure.  Today we will explore several different ways to choose the right bird as well as different ways to cook turkeys and let you decide which one would work for you and your family. 

When choosing a turkey, allow one and one half to two pounds per person.  The smaller the turkey the more weight is taken up by bones, so you need larger portions. Once you determine the size, look for a nicely shaped bird whether fresh or frozen.  Fresh turkeys can usually be ordered in advance and frozen turkeys need time to thaw, so plan ahead to allow for these factors.

A fresh turkey can be safely kept in the refrigerator for two days.  To thaw a frozen turkey in the refrigerator, allow three to five days depending on the size of the turkey. Leave it in the sealed wrappings and set it in a pan.  When the turkey is nearly thawed the giblets and neck can be removed.  Once the turkey is completely thawed, rinse it with fresh water and pat it dry inside and out with paper towels.

To thaw in water, cover the turkey with cold water and allow 30 minutes per pound.  Make absolutely sure the turkey is in a sealed plastic bag to avoid bacterial contamination.  Rinse thawed turkey and pat dry.

Read the About.com article, How to Thaw a Frozen Turkey for more detailed information.

Make some homemade turkey stock ahead of time with which to baste the turkey.  You can use the neck (not the liver, giblets or heart) to make about 2 cups.  For larger quantities buy an extra turkey leg or two, or wings if you can get them.  Roast the turkey parts until golden.  Pour some water or white wine into the roasting pan, heat and scrape up all the browned on bits in the bottom of the pan.  The is called the "fond."  Place the turkey pieces and liquid in a pot and add water to about 2" over the top of the meat.  Add a quartered onion, a stalk of celery cut in large chunks and a scrubbed carrot cut in large chunks.  Also add some stems of parsley saving the tops for other purposes, and 3 or 4 cloves of garlic, unpeeled, cut in half.  A few peppercorns can be added as well as some sage and thyme stems if desired.  Bring to a boil, then turn down the heat, cover and simmer for 2 hours.  Allow to cool, then strain and discard the solids.  Let your stock sit in the refrigerator until the fat comes to the top and solidifies.  Skim it off to make gravy that is not greasy.  This is much better than canned broth and only as salty as you want it to be.

The next decision that must be made is how long to cook the turkey.  I use the USDA guide to cooking turkey, Let's Talk Turkey, for cooking times and safe cooked temperature advice.  They provide a handy table with total cooking times for different size, unstuffed, turkeys, from 3 hours for a 12 pound bird, to 5 hours for a 24 pound bird.  The USDA advises not to stuff the turkey for food safety reasons.  Their guide is well worth reading as is the About.com article on the subject, Turkey Handling Tips.

Rub the breast with either butter or oil and season inside and out with salt and pepper, and any other seasonings you like.  Put the turkey into a roasting pan large enough to accomodate the bird.  The turkey can either be placed directly in the bottom of the pan or on a rack.  A rack allows for hot air circulation and a crisper skin.  You may tuck the wings under the bird or let them stick up to get crispy.  You may also want to place quartered onions, sliced lemons or oranges and other aromatic vegetables or herbs inside the cavity to add flavor.  Don't stuff it too full to permit thorough cooking.

If you don't have a meat thermometer, get one because you'll need it.  Tie or truss the legs to help the bird keep its shape and place the thermometer in the thickest part of the inner thigh.  Don't rely on those pop ups, because by the time they pop the turkey is overcooked.  You'll want to see an internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit, or 74 degrees Celsius.  When you see this temperature, check the temperature of the breast and wing area to make sure the bird is cooked through. The leg should move when fully cooked and juices should run clear.

Now that you've determined the size, thawed the turkey and prepared it for roasting, it's time for a few recipes.  These are basic recipes that we hope will be useful to you.

• Deep Fried Turkey
• Brined Turkey
• Turkey Breast with Fresh Herb Rub
• Carving a Turkey Video