Year 2, Day 121: Taco Town

One other Domania walker and I went out today for a walk, though we went early because the weather was threatening to be either too hot or thunderstormy. As it was, we were close to drenched when we finished, because it was quite hot. Most of the walk around the Charles River is shaded but about 35% is not. That part is enough to make you feel like you're walking to the car from the beach because you forgot something, sweating, and cursing the whole way, just hoping for a little relief from the wind or some mysteriously-appearing shade. When it's that hot, either on the tennis court on the walking path, it's hard to tell whether you're sweating because you're going at a good clip, or because it's just so hot.

Breakfast
A few grapes
(2)Joseph's 5 Net Carbs Wraps
1 Egg
1 oz. Cubed Ham
Sprinkling of Cheese
Tablespoon of Salsa

Snack
50% Jalapeno Cheddar
4 Sticks Celery 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter
15 Almonds
A few strawberries

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Feta and Grilled Chicken

Dinner;
Chicken Breast
Cabbage
Broccoli

I am very interested student in the world of food packaging, fast food and the commercial food industry in general. Emily does not understand why I am so fascinated with newest offerings from Wendy's or the Chicken Snacker from KFC. The truth is, I'm not sure either, it's just something I'm fascinated by. So it was great interest that I observed Taco Bell's new offering, the "Spicy Chicken Crunchwrap Supreme." It is, if you believe published reports, a tortilla, which separates spicy chicken, refried beans, cheese, on one side from the cold ingredients (McDLT-style): sour cream, lettuce and tomatoes which is then wrapped in a flour tortilla and grilled. While many bloggers are loving this addition to the menu (though decrying it's lack of a Mexican name like the "Crunchito") they are also (sadly) touting its 'eat while driving' ability. I find it nearly hysterical that this product is very similar to a SNL parody ("Taco Town") where they basically continued to wrap a sub with pizza, etc and deep fry it until until it had so many layers it had to be given to you in a shopping bag. If you have five minutes, please check it out here: http://www.foodfacts.info/extras/snl-taco-time.shtml

Also amazing is its 1300 mg of sodium (about half a day's worth) and its whopping carb count—69 grams. Naturally, it's also high in calories and (550) and calories from fat (210) and trans fats. I will not lie: I would probably eat two of them every day for lunch if I had not had a change of life, and lived or worked anywhere near a Taco Bell. I am thankful for the little victories in life...

Year 2, Day 121: Greek Pizza & More Tennis

Today it was a near perfect day for walking and three of us from the DWG went out. Though we always cover a wide variety of topics, I was allowed to rant on my favorite topic— the prevalence of "Greek" Pizza in our society that masquerades as "Regular" Pizza. Now I have nothing against the Greek people, and I really have nothing against Greek Pizza. I just feel that it should be clearly identified as "Greek" Pizza instead of being called Pizza, which is misleading. One of my coworkers fired back that as long as the ingredients are cheese, tomato sauce and pizza dough there should be no difference. As a supporting argument, I used the examples of "Sicilian" and "Chicago" or "New York" style Pizza. Why do they make these distinctions but no one points out when it's Greek? I, in fact, like Italian pizza better than Greek pizza. For one, it's larger, it's more tomato-y, it has a thinner overall crust but a thicker edge crust. Greek pizza is more uniform, flatter, more cheese. You can tell a Greek pizza just by looking at it—and Greek sub shops all over Massachusetts try to make them indistinguishable from their Italian counterparts by offering the same exact fare, but they are always tripped up by their insistence on "Greek" style Pizza (and occasionally, the baklava for dessert). No one on the walk agreed with me, but I feel strongly about this and I will continue my campaign.

Breakfast
Joseph's 5 Net Carbs Wraps
1 Egg
1 oz. Cubed Ham
Sprinkling of Cheese
Tablespoon of Salsa

Snack
50% Jalapeno Cheddar
4 Sticks Celery 2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russos ($5.85/$4.54)
Red leaf, red lettuce, red onion
chick peas, chicken, feta, tomatoes,


Pre-Tennis Snack
1/2 oz Boston Lite Popcorn


Dinner
Salad:Cabbage, Romaine, Broccoli, Feta
Chicken Breast

Emily met me for lunch today and we went to Russo's. We each got the salad bar and I was surpised that she didn't overdo it. The above prices represent mine and hers salad prices. I skeedaddled out of work today early so I could meet Emily on the tennis courts, as she recently 1) joined a local health club with an indoor tennis court (which I had only wanted to do for 10 years) and 2) entered a tennis tournament. So we've both been having a tennis renaissance and it's been exciting. Due to the fact that we had to move courts, and that a friend joined us, we didn't really keep score, but she was winning for most of the time. I was just glad to get out there and sweat. Then I came home and ate pretty much the exact same dinner as I had for lunch, except standing up. But the thing I always remember is that food tastes so much better after a workout when you're really, really hungry. Except Greek pizza, that is.

Year 2, Day 120: Green Fields

Originally, the Domania gang was determined to eat some barbecue and enjoy it on our back picnic table. However, unrelenting rain killed that idea so still hoping for grilled meat, we set out for Green Fields as a last-minute replacement. The upside was that it was Brazilian barbecue. The downside is that it's all you can eat buffet with constant attention from sword-wielding waiters carrying spears of cooked meat. With the greatest of restraint, I only made one trip to the salad bar (even though I took nearly all SoBe friendly veggies) but I did indulge in the meat somewhat. It's very difficult to say no when there is an endless array of tantalizing, freshly cooked foods being thrown at you. The best thing I can say is that unlike my co-workers, I did not need to go to Starbucks afterward, to fend off the dreaded "I ate too much and now feel sleepy" syndrome. I did think I would skip the snack later that afternoon, but alas, it was not to be.

Breakfast

1 Cup Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Strawberries/Blueberries
1 Cup Unsweetened Soy Milk

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
4 Sticks Celery, 2 Tblpsn Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Green Fields
1 Sausage
1 Beef Kebob
2 Chicken Pieces
1 Pork Loin Piece
Eggplant, Chickpeas
Collard Greens, Red Beans
Cucumbers, Peppers

Dinner:
Emily's Chicken Shreds with Ginger Scallion & Hot Sesame Oil
Cabbage Leaves

I was in no shape to eat dinner and just had a little bit of what Emily made though it was great, but I had to quit quite early in the meal. I made a mental note to get more walks in this week.

Year 2, Day 120: "I Wish I had Connected the Dots Sooner."

There were many parts of the Al Gore film that struck me, but this one line in particular really stayed with me. He said, referring specifically to his sister's death of lung cancer, and metaphorically about the earth's global warming, that we often connect the dots, but sometimes we wish we had connected the dots...sooner." I think about that in nearly every facet of my life, like did I wait too long to have children, etc. I think that this is related to being in my 40s, and probably from feeling like I am about to turn 41. I am glad I made a "U-turn in the Holland Tunnel" as my father-in-law would say, about my weight and my lifestyle, because I would not have wanted to deprive my children of their father, whether because of a premature death, or just the standard kind of disabled quality you have when you can't play with them for more than 5 minutes at a time. I mean if you don't want to play with your kids for more than five minutes, that's another thing....

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Silk Unsweetened Soy milk
1 cup blueberries and strawberries

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
6 Stalks Celery
3 tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch (Russo's: $4.54)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper, celery
chicken, chick peas, broccoli, feta, mushrooms, tomatoes

Dinner
Turkey Crumble Wraps with Cabbage

Everyone likes to surf the Internet, and I am no exception. Why just today I found "The Big Tips Candy Collection" that made my eyes pop out. If you are around 40 you will drool until your head hits the monitor when you see what this is. Some company decided they needed to package 15 rather esoteric and 'out-of-print' candy bars together in one package for $24.95. You can see the details here: http://www.bigtipscandy.com/about_candy.html

The candy bars included are totally second-shelf stuff like Clark Bar, Uno, Sky Bar, Mallow Cup (Those might be the same), Goldberg's Peanut Chews (score one for the Jews), Goo Goo Cluster, Rocky Road and more. If someone asked me, I'd want a box that included a Marathon Bar, a Reggie Bar, A Charleston Chew....why I could go on all day, but what's the point. Share the "Big Tips Candy Collection" with your favorite Boomer/Xer, but please don't share it with me. I don't need that aggravation.

Year 2, Day 119: First Day of Camp

There is a lot to do when it's the first day of anything, but today's it's just day camp and at that, it's around the corner. Also, Ruby has a few friends at the camp, and it's where she went to school, so I'm less neurotic than usual. Sleep away camp is going to give me a stroke, but I'm not worried about that now. Since the camp will only allow dairy meals for lunch (and unlike other camps that insist on this rule, don't provide pizza, or anything yummy and hot) and that is a vexation for me since my ideas about what will pass and what my daughter will eat make only very small overlapping circles. This morning I made her a hamburger. I on the other hand, continued my Balthazar consumption, but I switched back to the pan-loaf of multi-grain, instead of the wide-rye style I was eating in NJ.

Breakfast
1 slice balthazar bread
2 slices of ham
Green Tea

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Lunch: Russo's ($5.45)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper,
chicken, chick peas, mushrooms, tomatoes
feta, oil & vinegar

Dinner:
Catfish a la Emily
Grilled Jillzy Style Asparagus

Movie Snack: Popcorn

I saw "An Inconvenient Truth" and I found it both moving and (obviously) alarming. Unlike Fahrenheit 9/11 it's not as "attackive" (a word misused by a former boss now part of my jargon). It sort of lets you observe without going out the way to frighten you. It is like a big Al Gore commercial, and even more entertaining, a big commercial for the Mac, which he uses in every scene he's in where's not on the farm.
I certainly recommend it to anyone looking for a movie to see. In a related story, I asked the concession stand guy how much popcorn was in the medium bag. He said without question "46 ounces." I looked at him dumbly. "Are you sure?" I asked, looking at the purse-size bag. "I think your math might be off there." No, he insisted, and even went so far as to pretend to read the writing on the bag, "46 ounces." Not being able to leave well enough alone I countered, "I think you must mean 4.6 ounces. I'm certain 46 ounces of popcorn would fill up a pillow case or more." I saw that our conversation was over, so I just paid and moved on. No wonder we're trailing the world in the math, I thought.

Year 2, Day 118: Torrential Downpour

Got up early in the AM, and played a set of tennis against my brother in law. After a bruising (6-1,6-2) loss on Friday, I set my sites on getting three games off of him. I actually got 4, but he beat me (6-4). However, as opposed to the games on Friday, where I felt like I was holding a frying pan instead of a tennis racket, I remembered how to do some things out there. I remembered how 'swing through' the ball and lots of other stuff. To say I was a recalcitrant student of tennis when I younger is an understatement. But I did always love the game. And now, with a year of ellipse work behind me, I feel I can really cover the court in a way I was never able to do, even at my best, maybe 10 years ago, when emily and I played two or three times a weekend (and several times during the week). Of course the best part is that is that for every set of tennis, there's more balthazar and bread and peanut butter to eat.

Breakfast
2 Soft-Boiled Eggs
1 Large Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain Bread
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
Green Tea

Snack
1 cup coffee
Another 1/2 slice of Balthazar Multi-Grain Bread
About 6 Stalks celery,
4 Tablespoons Peanut Butter

Lunch:
Turkey Sandwich—Balthazar Multi-Grain bread, Mustard, 50% Jalapeno Cheddar, Chinese Cabbage Salad, Assorted Greens. (I split it with Emily)

Packing the House Anxiety Eat:
Balthazar Chocolate Bread with Peanut Butter (Three Bites)

On the road snack:
2 Cheese Sticks

Dinner
70% of 1 Fresh City "Great Caesar" Wrap with Chicken
1 Bite of a McDonald's Hamburger (awful).

I must say that the anxiety related to moving and packing a house nearly always drives me to nearest unhealthy yet delicious snack. This can account for me inhaling a vat of peanut butter as we all ran around like chickens trying to put a life in boxes. On the way home, a light rain gave way to a torrential downpour and nearly every vital junction we got to was jam-packed with twice the volume of cars that could easily pass through it. By the time we got to the last 15 miles of route 84 you could only see headlights through the dense, cold fog and sheets of rain that made the top of the car sound like the bottom of a jiffy-pop popcorn in progress. The mood in the car was surprisingly upbeat, which I attribute to being in the roomy new minivan instead of the cramped old station wagon. But, we had left at 4:23 and by late in the 7:00s we had just got to the Mass Pike so we pulled over and all went in to go to the bathroom, and to get Ruby "Bratz Magic", theoretically the toy at McDonalad's (I believe now it's at Burger King. Ruby doesn't understand the distinction, and why should I explain it, really?). She's not that disappointed when it turns out to be "Cars" but she doesn't really eat her hamburger (she ordered two) and you know she won't eat french fries. In a moment of weakness, I allowed her to get the apple juice as a drink, but she really didn't want that either. Emily and I got 'wraps' from Fresh City, but neither of us finished them. They were, in my analysis, poorly constructed, badly drenched excuses for salads made by people without a concern for the quality of a salad. And really what can you expect? The woman expediting orders was more concerned with letting me know how frustrated she was with the customer on the phone; the woman making the wraps was probably at her second job, and the place was PACKED with people waiting on line to get previously described poor salad wraps.

Out of both frustration that the hamburgers went untouched, and desperation for something to eat, I took a bite of Ruby's hamburger. It wasn't awful in the traditonal sense of the word—something you would spit out—but it was something I probably don't need to do again for a long time. As Emily said about Ruby's refusal to eat McDonald's— "She knows what a hamburger tastes like." Amen.

By the time we got home, we were all car sick, home sick, and sick and tired. But mostly, as my mother would say "glad to be home in one piece."

Year 2, Day 117: Digitally Disconnected

On Friday night, after tennis, and dinner, and what have you, I realize with some horror that my father-in-law, in acknowledgement that we are packing up the house to sell it, has turned off the cable service. Now mostly, this should be no big deal, but in every one of life's transitions there is that moment, that change, that realization that is different from all the others. It hits you like a punch. And this was it for me. It seems silly, and shallow, but when I realized that there was not only no cable (he only had basic anyway, never any movie channels) but actually no television reception at all (except for some kind of UHF Indian channel), I got really really depressed, and for so many reasons. For starters, there were the practical matter of how to distract our kids on what we knew was going to be a rainy saturday. But more for me, it was how I would be "digitally disconnected." The house never had an Internet connection, though in the late 90s Emily and I did try to set up her mother with an old Mac that we equipped with AOL which she called "an online." So I am already resigned, when there, to not be able to get my email, or access the Internet in any kind of way. When I realized also that there would be no aimlessly relaxing in the comfy living room just channel surfing, after the kids were in bed (and 20 years ago it was when the parents were in bed) I just felt sad. I realized both how dependent I had become on staring into one cathode ray or another, and really for the first time, realized that we, as in the collective we, won't live here anymore.

Breakfast
2 Eggs
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Slice Balthazar Rye Bread
Green Tea

Snack
Coffee

Lunch: Leftover Banquet
Beef with Snowpeapods mixed
with Chicken and Asparagus, plus
sliced radish and wasabi

After Lunch Snack
2 Slices of Cooked Turkey


Graduation Party
Olives (with Pimentos)
Cashews
Turkey
Mediterannean Salad: Scallions, Cucumbers, Red Onions, Tomatoes
Hummus, Babbaganous, more tomatoes and olives

No matter how hard my resolve is to be on the diet, I will always struggle with parties and buffets and any place that food is randomly displayed throughout a house or room just waiting to be eaten. In reviewing what I've written here, it doesn't seem that bad what I ate, but overall the day felt heavy with out-of-control eating. I suspect it has something to do with the ever-present dual temptations of olives and cashews. I certainly ate my fill, all through the night. For the most part I was shuffling back and forth between the kids and trying to be social, but I did manage to polish off quite a bit of mediterranean salad simultaneously.

Year 2, Day 116: Trip to NY for the Graduation

Up early and to the gym. There's no reason if I have sit in a car all day I can't try and raise my metabolism beforehand. I do four point five miles in about forty-five minutes. I got home, showered, packed, ran around a like a chicken, got in the car and got on the road. We are getting better at planning more sobe-friendly snacks. Oddly, since Magnolia, we have been getting on the road at 11 or 12, which is bad because it's also time for lunch. This time we brought chicken breasts, grilled asparagus, and more. I brought a fluffernutter for Ruby. She ate about 75% of it.

Pre-Gym Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
2 Slices Ham
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Post Gym Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Silk Unsweetened Soy milk
1 cup blueberries and strawberries

Lunch/Car:
Chicken Breasts
Asparagus
3 Handfuls of Almonds/Cashews
2 oz. Popcorn
1.5 oz. Cracker Barrel Cheese

Pre and Post Tennis Snack
2 Sticks Celery with Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Dinner
Sashimi: Salmon, Tuna, Whitefish, Octopus, Yellowtail
Bok Choy a la Amy
Beef with Snowpea pods

When we landed in New Jersey, there was already a tennis match in progress. Emily and drove right there and we traded me for Emily's sister Amy (already on the court). I took the first game from my brother in law but then had my hat handed to me, 1-6. I took a break after Magnolia took her nap and Emily returned for a bout. Then I played a second set, with marginally better results, still holding my hat, 2-6. I am not ready for prime time on the court, but I sure did love all that exercise. I must say the best feeling was being able to play two sets, and run for balls, and cover the court, and not feel like I'm going to have a heart attack. If you knew me back when, you would know I always thought I was this close (me holding thumb and forefinger about a half-inch apart). After so much exercise, I was ravenously hungry and ate my weight in mediocre sushi.

Year 2, Day 115: EOW

I continue to try and include strawberries in my daily diet. This is for three reasons; 1) because fruit is an important component to your day; 2) Local strawberries are in season and can't be beat; and 3) Strawberries are the lowest in carbs of just about any breakfast-compatible fruit. I will be sorry by July 4th, when the season will be over, and I'll be making do with imported strawberries by Driscoll from California or Kabul, or wherever they come from. I'll also be sorry that all manner of Woodland animal eat the three strawberries in my garden that I count on eating every year, even though last year was the first (but boy, were they delicious). I may get to go Strawberry picking next weekend. That would be something.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Strawberries
1 Cup 8th Continent Light Soy Milk

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
6 Stalks Celery
3 tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russos ($5.85)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper, celery
chicken, chick peas, broccoli, feta

Dinner
Chicken Breasts
Broccoli
Peppadews
1 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Upon getting home, Emily and try to begin the impossible— packing to go home to New York. It something we do so much, and with two children (one, unnamed, a baby, that doesn't sleep in the car like she should) it just gets more and more complicated. We agree to prepare. We had earlier decided to make chicken, so we'd have it for the next day. We try and keep track of the bags— we have a cold bag, a dry bag, a last minute bag, clothes, electronics (computer, camera, cell phone). About half way through the exercise we lost our enthusiasm and just tried to get a good night's sleep. I have started to try and do the NY Times crossword puzzle again in the hopes that it help keep my mind sharp. So far, I haven't got any better at crosswords.

Year 2, Day 114: The Perfect Day, A Brisk Walk

Today was just the perfect day, and it comes after so many rainy, cold, hot, unspectacular days that it stood out in sharp relief. It was the day that all other days will be judged by. And by this I am referring only to the weather as the day inside the office was fraught with professional terrorism, frequent miscommunication and bungled opportunities. The Domania Walking Gang group of four went out today, but so festooned with angst was I that I felt compelled to walk fast and so only one other was keeping pace (and actually, he could have outpaced me but didn't). It's always good to break a sweat during the walk, especially if it means I can treat myself to one piece of delicious fried mozzarella later in the evening.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
3 Slices Ham
Green tea

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
5 Stalks Celery
2 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad feta with Chicken

Dinner: Papparazi
1 Medallion of Fried Mozzarella with sauce
Boneless, Skinless Breast of Chicken
Spinach
Broccoli

Emily had the fantastic, spontaneous idea to meet out for dinner. We met at Papparazi's at Chestnut Hill, which is great because it takes us about same amount of time to get there, but in addition, they have excellent food and they're kid friendly, as well as SoBe friendly. I got there before my family and put the whole order in because I knew everybody would be hungry. For a change of pace, I ordered the Fried Mozzarella, which comes in an amulet shape instead of a stick. I figured Ruby would like it. She did, though she complained it was 'spicy.' She also complained that the tomato sauce on the pasta she got later was 'spicy' too, indicating she may not know the meaning of the word spicy, mistaking it for the word 'tomato-ey.' I ate my usual dinner, but I did allow for one amulet of fried mozzarella, which was FANTASTIC, and I figured with my brisk walk, I earned it.

Year 2, Day 113: It Ain't All Fluff

By now you've all heard about this one. But in case you aren't married to an always-on computer, this from the Associated Press.

Sen. Jarrett Barrios was outraged that his son Nathaniel, a third-grader, was given a Fluffernutter sandwich at the King Open School in Cambridge. He said he plans to file legislation that would ban schools from offering the local delicacy more than once a week as the main meal of the day.

The Democrat said that his amendment to a bill on junk food in schools may seem "a little silly" - but that school nutrition is serious.

His proposal seemed anything but silly to Rep. Kathi-Anne Reinstein, a Democrat whose district in Revere is near the company that has produced the marshmallow concoction for more than 80 years, Durkee-Mower Inc.

She responded with a proposal to designate the Fluffernutter the "official sandwich of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts."

"I'm going to fight to the death for Fluff," Reinstein said.

An aide to Barrios insisted the senator is not anti-Fluff and even plans to co-sponsor Reinstein's bill, although he still believes schools should cut back on Fluffernutters.

"He loves Fluff as much as the next legislator," aide Colin Durrant said.

Fluff has a long history in Massachusetts. The treat was popularized by H. Allen Durkee and Fred L. Mower, who cooked up the concoction in their kitchen at night and sold it door to door during the day.

*****

I love that the aide felt the need to add "He loves fluff as much as the next legislator." Please everybody, if you're not registered to vote, do so now, so we can throw EVERYBODY in office out of office in the next election.

Breakfast:
3 Slices of Ham
1 Slice Balthazar Bread
1 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
6 Stalks Celery
3 tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Russo's ($4.78)
Red leaf, red onion, red pepper
chicken, chick peas, broccoli, feta

Dinner:
Feta & Spinach Burger
Emily's Cauliflower

I must tell you that Ruby went through at least a year in her life where I was making her fluffernutter sandwiches constantly. After one jar of real fluff I switched to the Whole Foods Vanilla spead. Same ingredients, which are: sugar.

Many people don't know the various tricks involved. You must keep your Fluff at room temperature. If cold, it will be impossible to spread and break the soft bread. Then you will be cursing as your hand will be, like a ventriloquist, through the hole in the bread and you'll probably have fluff on your fingers. This will tempt to you to lick your fingers, but then you'll have to keep licking them because you really can't get the fluff off with one suck, it's a commitment. Don't even start with firm bread or toast— you think it might make the sandwich assembly easier, but your kid won't eat it, unless he or she likes multi-grain bread in case he or she couldn't possibly like fluff, which is essentially cotton candy in a jar that's white. Another thing is that you must you put the peanut butter on first, because it's much easier to clean the peanut butter off the knife and then spread the fluff than the other way around. Lastly, be very careful when you put the pieces together—if they are misaligned you'll never forgive yourself. I'm still kicking myself.

Year 2, Day 112: Chemistry

If you noted a few days ago I wrote that my niece was here, and she was about to embark on her college career following the completion of her regents exams. Those, for those of you that didn't grow up in New York or California, are standardized tests that students have to take in all the major math/science/english arenas from 9th grade on in order to graduate. I wrote the following in an email to her, and I thought I would publish it again here (below), as it was very illustrative of who I am.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Blueberries/Strawberries
1 Cup 8th Continent Light Soy Milk

Snack
12 oz coffee (Half Decaf)
2 oz 50% jalapeno Cheddar
5 Stalks Celery
3 Tablespoons Peanut Butter (SC)

Lunch: Tantawan
Shrimp, Mushroom Soup
Chicken/Lettuce/Peanuts
Beef Salad

Dinner
Chicken with Scallions
Big Salad

I was so poorly versed in Chemistry, and so poorly studied, that I took someone's advice to draw the "clown face" on the mechanical form you must fill out with #2 pencil to complete the test. No joke, this is exactly what I did. I finished in 15 minutes but I didn't want it to look bad so I waited till someone (smart) finished and then I handed in my test.

I got a 65, which was a passing grade, allowing me to pass Chemistry and graduate 10th Grade. Chemistry had been very difficult for me, because it was taught by Mrs. Gellert, an immensely overweight woman who was the first woman I ever knew that displayed female balding. I despised her because she was strident and had a grating voice. In addition, she lived in Great Neck, where I went to school, and whenever there was a blizzard she was NEVER absent. She never got sick. She missed only two days the whole year, and they were both due to a funeral. We had quite a tense relationship, and she was always trying to prove that I wasn't paying attention, which I wasn't.

One time, when she was discussing something about particles (which she was illustrating by holding up models), and I, Ruby-like, was prattling on about nonsense, she called on me. "Mr. Deutsch," she said, "please tell the class why these ions (she held up the model) don't conduct electricity." I looked at her for a second. Then, defiantly I said "Because they're made out of styrofoam." The class erupted in roars that did not die down for minutes. It was one of the most satisfying moments of my life. I think that had a lot to do with who I became later in life.

Year 2, Day 111: Father's Day

Sure, it's traditional to sleep late on Father's Day, and to be awarded a present of a necktie, but being an untraditional family, I got up early, and went shopping, which is actually something I like to do. To reward myself for doing a necessary house chore at 8:30AM, I decided to get an iced-black coffee from Dunkin Donuts. I could already tell the day was going to make good on its threat to be very, very hot. When I opened the door to the DD I realized there was a problem, and soon I discovered what it was. The Sunday morning crew was taken by surprise by a large Father's Day order containing what I assessed at six or seven breakfast sandwiches and multiple 'box of joes'. I considered leaving, but decided the effort extended wasn't worth it. I stood my ground, and with line attrition, and a little patience, it all worked out. On the way home I also stopped at CVS to get myself a new pair of sunglasses, since Magnolia had twisted my other ones out of existence.

Breakfast
2 Hard Boiled Eggs
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain
1 Large Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee

Snack
4 Celery Sticks
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter
2 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn


Lunch
Romaine, Cabbage, Feta and grilled chicken


Dinner
Chicken, Bok Choy
Strawberries (Magnolia didn't eat)

Getting back home there was a lot to do, but I had hoped that Ruby and I would take advantage of the heat and go see "Cars." Since I never get to see movies, I was really looking forward to it, though I imagined it to be a lackluster animated picture. In fact, she didn't want to do that at all, she wanted to go to the pool, so after a few false starts, that's where we went. She spent about half the time in the pool and the other half on the monkey bars. I made small chit-chat with other families, including one joke that didn't go over that well. In conversation, I suggested that a third family didn't like the Needham kindergarten they were in because at the end of the semester their child could not read "Wuthering Heights." It really landed like a lead balloon. I learned a lesson about jokes and school families— they don't mix, especially when the jokes are bad and the families humorless. Later that night when I was putting Ruby to bed she said "I'm sorry I didn't make you a present for Father's Day." And I replied "But my present for Father's Day was BEING your father." She was stymied by that, and promised to make something for me the next day.

Year 2, Day 110: Lots of Action

Saturday, after poker, as many readers know, is often a very S-L-O-W time for me but this AM was different. When I got home from cards last night Emily and my niece were still up so in the AM I was probably among the most familiar with being that tired (of the adults). Ruby and I set out earlyish (9AM) to get a toy for the birthday party we were to attend later that day. Alas, my memory did not serve and the toy store opened at 9:30, not 9, so we had to kill time. We decided to go to Dunkin Donuts, but to walk, not to drive, and it was not an insubstantial walk. Naturally, we also had to walk back, and then we had to walk to the birthday party (since it was right in our neighborhood). Although I'm used to a long walk, it seemed like a lot of walking for me. Ruby and I both ate prior to going to the birthday party, because the invitation did not specify lunch, even though when I called this neighbor she said "we have a ton of food." That really isn't very helpful when you're planning for your kid's lunch (or even my own). When we got there it was chicken, sausage, hot dogs and hamburgers, prepared by the birthday girl's father, a professional chef. Ruby was only interested in the chips and salsa (she's going through a phase) but at the suggestion of the host, I had a sausage, which despite advertisements, was not at all spicy, but rather cheesy.


Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean
1 Cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Blueberries/Strawberries
1 Cup 8th Continent Light Soy Milk

Snack
1 Small Dunkin Donuts Ice Coffee (black)
3 oz. 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
1 Rye Vita Cracker

Lunch (Part One)
Ham & Cheese Omelet
1 Rye Vita Cracker with Butter

Lunch (Part Two: Birthday Party)
1 Not Spicy Sausage

Pre-Tennis Snack
1 Joy Stick

Dinner
Hamburger
Peppadews
Pickles
Salad with Cauliflower and Feta
Bok Choy

Emily thought that a Sunday Morning tennis match would be a good Father's Day gift, but since our niece was going home on Sunday morning, Saturday turned out to be the best day, even though we were all quite tired. Also, they were predicting hot hot humid Sunday, so it seemed like late Saturday would be good, though it was quite muggy. We played some pretty out-of-fine-shape tennis and by the end we were both ready to be carried off the courts, much like Carl Weathers and Sly Stallone at the end of Rocky. The score, for those who have interest in such things, was 6-3, Emily.

Year 2, Day 109—Another Poker Game

A big day today. It was Ruby's last day of Kindergarten, I had an ultrasound, there was the card game, and I snuck in a workout in to boot (just four miles in 40 minutes). I had the day off from work for all these reasons but I was so busy, it felt like working. Last night Ruby had had a very bad night, up at 2:45 and up until about 4AM when Emily finally had to sub in for me because I had lost my ability to parent correctly. We were all a little gorked that her last day of Kindergarten had actually arrived— it didn't seem like that would ever happen. We thought we'd celebrate by taking her to lunch at The Cheesecake Factory. However, a night of very broken sleep, plus an all-popsicle snack at Kindergarten, plus a hot day meant she probably wanted to just come and relax when it was all done. After we ordered the food she could barely keep her head on straight and shortly after she ate one slider (the nickname for small hamburgers, like those served at White Castle) she wanted to be taken home, and Emily obliged (because I had to go to the Ultrasound). Before she left though, Emily and I finished her burgers.

Breakfast
Ham and Cheese Omelet
Tea

Snack
1 Slice Balthazar Multigrain (with butter)

Lunch
SEARED TUNA TATAKI SALAD
Pacific Albacore Tuna Lightly Seared and Served Rare with Avocado, Tomato and Mixed Greens Tossed with Wasabi Vinaigrette

Hamburger meat of one slider

Dinner/Poker: Snacks
Strawberries
Almonds 'n' Cashews
Pistachios
Popcorn

Chinese
Moo Shi Pork (with 1 Pancake)
Beef with String Beans
Chicken with Broccoli
1 Beef Teriyaki
1 Spare Rib
Szechwan Spicy Pork
2 Shrimp in Lobster Sauce

Knowing that I would be at the card game tonight (I won, but came in FAR second place to my brother) I knew I could not have any nuts, and very few carbs today. This is always a challenge because it requires strategy. It means avoiding peanut butter and having as few carbs as possible. As it was, I did eat a lot at the card game (as always) but having worked out in the afternoon, I certainly didn't feel as bad about as I might have. Again, there was the temptation of pie (this time Cranberry Apple), but I was able to avoid it. But the fresh-picked strawberries were another matter—I ate a lot of them.

Year 2, Day 108: Fauna and Flora

We went for a brisk walk today. It was quite muggy and one of the Domania Gang commented that it was 'like walking against a wall." It felt like quite a long walk, even though it did not differ in length from our usual walk. I'm glad we got two walks in this week, because I'm still not over my trip to New York, food wise. I have an appointment tomorrow for an ultrasound which should be incredibly boring.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean
Heritage Flakes
1 Cup 8th Continent Light Soy Milk
1 Cup Blueberries

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Feta

Snack:
2.5 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
4 Sticks Celery
3 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Dinner
Emily's Kicked-Up Lettuce Wraps
Molly's Big, Crunchy, Green and Nearly Tasteless Salad

Our niece is staying with us and she has always been quite strict about what she eats. She is known for ability to consume large amounts of salad, and I believe tonight's salad had string beans (raw), broccoli, cabbage, lettuce and scallions in it. It was just about the crunchiest thing I've ever eaten, but her choice of dressing—olive oil and lemon—made nearly tasteless. It really made me feel like a rabbit or science experiment to eat it, though I had two bowls, because basically, I'll eat anything I can eat a lot of. At this point, the flavor is secondary.

Year 2, Day 107: Move Over Corn-Fed Beef, Here Comes Teflon

How much do you love your teflon/silverstone pans? Really, how much?

Whoops, Dupont (owner of the state of Delaware) has been asked to phase out perfluorooctanoic acid, or PFOA. Apparently, this is the chemical that is released when you heat a teflon pan to 600 degrees— is that even possible in the home?
In animals PFOA can cause cancer, immune-system damage and death. Whoops again—it lingers in carpets, drapes and towels long after it's gone from the air. And, guess what, according to Time Magazine: 95% of all Americans have traces of PFOA in their blood. In 2004, the company admitted no liability but paid $107.6 million to settle a lawpoint with 50,000 people who lived near DuPont's West Virginia plant. In January, an EPA advisory board labeled PFOA a likely human carcinogen."

"The EPA has since asked DuPont and seven other companies that use PFOA to phase out the chemical. Although DuPont disputes the classification as a carcinogen and won't stop making Teflon, the company has pledged that by 2015, it will reduce the amount of PFOA used to make the coating and will guarantee that the chemical won't be released into the environment from DuPont manufacturing plants."

2015. Wow, they got right on that.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean
Heritage Flakes
1 Cup 8th Continent Light Soy Milk
1 Cup Blueberries

Lunch:
Russo's Salad ($5.51)
Red Leaf, Red Pepper, Red Onion
Broccoli, Chick Peas, Feta, Chicken

Snack
Coffee
Peanut Butter
Celery
15 Almonds
1/2 oz. Boston Lite Popcorn

Dinner
Chicken
Cauliflower

Not sure why, but I was INCREDIBLY hungry today. I should have just kept my jaw shut and enjoyed the burn, but by 3:30 I had to have a 1/2 of popcorn. Even though it's a whole 'snack size' bag, it's really about three bites, for me. Still later, I was compelled to eat some almonds that are lingering around the office. Not very happy with this new hunger, maybe I have not been managing snack time properly. It's very hard to wait until 3:30 and the truth is I have been having the celery snack earlier and earlier. I've got to watch that.

Year 2, Day 106: Beware What You Don't Beware

I was at Ruby's "Field Day" celebration today, and at 4:00 there was an hour long 'talent show' that showcased the various (and some might say debatable) talents among the three Kindergarten classes at the school. The acts were all mostly very short, though they varied in length and quality. One boy however, got up to do a lip-synch to "We are the Dinosaurs" (a song which will cause all current parents of toddlers to slap their heads but leave everyone just imagining). It must have gone swell in rehearsals, but he was struck dumb with stage fright and even though the teacher was pantomiming the moves, he could not perform them. Even when she came out on stage next to him, he couldn't do it. Someone wisely started some applause, and he held his ears as if in pain, and walked off the stage, searching out a parental or friendly face, which he found shortly and deposited hisself on said lap. Later that day back at our park, Ruby hurt herself on the picnic table. What do these things have in common? I suppose it's that as parents and people we spend a lot of time worrying about 'the big thing' we're worried about. And yet the thing that happens to us is something we weren't expecting. To try and make it clearer: I might hang around, over-protective, while Ruby works her magic on the monkey bars, as I fret that she might fall off and break an arm. Yet what she hurts herself is a picnic table that she spends every day at. So was I worrying about the wrong thing? That talent-show boy's parents probably had every reason to think their son would put on a great show. Now for all we know, it's a life long trauma and fear of public speaking. Do you think for one minute they worried about that? There's a lesson in there, somewhere.

Breakfast
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain
5 Slices Ham
Tea

Snack
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
2 Tablespoons Peanut Butter (Super Chunky)
5 Stalks Celery

Lunch: Sushi 21
Seafood Teriyaki
Salad
About six shumai
Pickled Ginger
Miso Soup

Dinner
Chicken a la Emily
Broccoli 'n' onions
Peppadews

Dessert
The ice cream left on the spoon used to transfer the ice cream from one container to another.

Emily and I decided to take Ruby out for ice cream, a tradition that began in our salad days. Many of those trips contained the same exact conversations, such as: "What are you going to get?" , "Get a small, not a large!" and "I don't like that flavor." JP Licks, Ben and Jerry's, Emack and Bolios, Herrels, White Mountain Creamery, you name it, if they sold ice cream, Emily and I went there, and fought about flavors and sizes. From the perspective of having gained and lost 40lbs, I guess I can say she was right— I probably didn't need to get mediums, but I was going on the principle that the ice cream was the least of my problems, so I guess we were both right. We got to Friendly's and sauntered up to the take-out window. WOW, there are about a dozen choices, each one more mind-blowing for a five year old than the one before. Ruby chose the Peanut Butter Cup Sundae, which had peanut butter topping, chocolate fudge, vanilla ice cream, whipped cream, and one whole Reeses cup. I convinced her that she SHOULD only eat a portion of it (it was $4.99) and that she could have the rest of it tomorrow. Even though we went there for Ruby-reward, there was a moment, after we got the kids ice cream (yes, Magnolia had some vanilla) and parked it by the window, where we were just being a family eating ice cream on a summer evening, and that was its own reward.

Year 2, Day 105: Back in Boston

Even if it's restful, going away can sometimes feel like depriving yourself of a weekend. You come back and you're tired, and you just have to get back in the saddle. It's June in New England and usually that's a pretty good time because it's not too hot but the days have that powerful sun that usually makes you glad to be outside. Unfortunately, it looks like rain this week, so I knew we needed to get walking right away. Today we went for a brisk walk around the Charles and it was good.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean!
3/4 cup Heritage Flakes
1 Cup Blueberries
1 Cup 8th Continent

Snack
12 oz Coffee (half decaf)
2 oz 50% Jalapeno Cheddar
6 Stalks Celery
2 Tablespoons Super Chunky Peanut Butter

Lunch: Peter's Kitchen
Greek Salad with Chicken

Dinner:
93% Sirloin Burger
Emily's Stir-Fried Cabbage
Peppadews
Bubbie's Pickles

As I continued down my trail of fretting about the corn-fed beef, I felt it necessary to inquire both on the Web, where www.eatwild.com has good links to information and national farms to get grass-fed beef, and in my local Whole Foods, who told me that the Alewife store had a selection of grass-fed beef. The meat-man I spoke to said that he had tasted and wasn't convinced it tasted better. I asked what the meat they served was. He said that Whole Foods served a combination of 'grass and grain.' Then I thought "what if Grass-fed beef doesn't taste good to me because I've been trained to like this other corn-fed taste?" I have decided to pursue it (since Alewife isn't that far). If it's good, I could see going to a farm and stocking up. If not...there will probably be less beef eating.

Year 2, Day 104: The Unveiling

This Post Dedicated to My Grandmother Sylvia.

Day to get up, get dressed in a suit, get packed, into the car, don't forget anything, clean your room, etc. While my brother and I were in our home in Great Neck, we made a valiant attempt to clean up his old room, which had lately become the repository of everything from mail to discarded toys and various failed electronica (a copying machine, for instance). We worked hard, and I came hope with some toys for the girls and box of stuff for me. Everything was a bit of a crazy rush but I did discover (thanks to my brother) a new light Soy Milk called 8th Continent. In a side by side comparison with Silk Unsweetened Soy Milk, the 8th Continent had less grams of fat and less sugars. Upon inspection of the ingredients, I noted that 8th Continent contains sucrolose, which is also known as Splenda. THAT explains why they don't sell it at Whole Foods; and why I probably shouldn't be drinking it. When farmers are feeding your cows corn, you really don't need to look for additional ways to put the wrong kind of thing into your body. I will finish the bottle, though.

Breakfast
1 Cup Kashi Go Lean!
1/2 cup Oat Flakes/Oatios
1 cup 8th Continent Light Soy Milk
1 cup Strawberries/blueberries

Snack
2 oz. Jalapeno Jack Cheese

Lunch: Unveiling Spread (Dairy)
Greek Salad with Tuna Salad, Egg Salad and Whitefish Salad
American Cheese
Strawberries
Decaf Coffee

Dinner
Three Eggs
1/2 Chicken Chorizo Sausage
Tablespoon Salsa
1 Slice Balthazar Multi-Grain
2 oz. Jalapeno Jack cheese

It was a big cheese day. It started when we got back from the unveiling and the food had not arrived yet. I knew I was going to have a Low-Blood-Sugar moment, so I nipped into the car and cut myself a wedge of cheese. Then, as is so often the case with these gatherings, you eat your lunch, and then you're just hanging around, talking, chatting, and the plates of food are just beckoning you to eat them, and you oblige them. At one point, the cinnamon bobke was calling so loud to me that I couldn't hear the civilized conversation being addressed to me; I had to leave the room so I could concentrate. After that, we headed home, where I got to enjoy some of the new Balthazar bread I scored from MOM. Overall it was a good weekend, though I really thought I was going to get a chance to get on my Mom's treadmill, but it never happened. From a SoBe perspective, it wasn't great: I ate twice the calories and didn't get to the gym. Hopefully, I get a lot of walks in this week at work.