Year 3, Day 209 Fitness-a-thon

Got up this morning with a sore neck and shoulders, but went to the gym anyway, doing my customary 6 miles in 65 minutes. Not tremendously fast, but still good. Then my brother in law and I played three sets of tennis, which he won 6-3, 6-4, 6-4. It has been a long while since I've played with anyone who could go three sets (except his wife, my sister-in-law).

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch:
Fritatta
Chicken Breast
Assorted Cheeses
Salad

Snack
Almonds & Cashews
Several parts of donuts

Dinner: Elephant Walk
Salmon
Heirloom Tomatoes
Trout
Lots of Wine

Having been looking around Chowhound, Yelp and such before I went out the vineyard, I had spotted "The Hole"-- legendary for having the best donuts anywhere. It so happened that my brother-in-law and sister-in-law were 'down the cape' and my bil loves donuts, so I mentioned it. They went and returned with every conceivable donut. This, of course, sent the household in an apoplectic frenzy of donut-avoidance, eating, and then running away from the donut bag. Later that night, we went out for a luxurious dinner for four at the Elephant Walk. We were going to go to Burdick's in Cambridge for an all-chocolate night-cap but alas, they were closed. So like young tourists, we went to the North End and got a canoli. (Big kudos to Emily for getting us there, since every single road, exit and sign has changed). The Red Sox game was on so the place was lit up like a pinball machine. In a secondary amazing feat by Emily, she found a free parking spot, and we cruised around for 20 minutes till we remembered we were old, and then drove home.

Year 3, Day 208: Bad, Bad People Behind My House

Ruby had trouble going to bed. Then she was up in the middle of the night. Then up at 6:15. Not very promising for a day. When I came home at night I noticed they had totally taken down the forest behind my house. There was no wine, so it was straight to the chocolate.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Russos' ($5.69)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
Jerky
1 Honey Crisp Apple
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
30 Smokehouse Almonds

Dinner
Steak
1 Applegate Organic Hot Dog
Cauliflower

Dessert
1/3 Dark Chocolate with Almonds

A dark day. I can barely type.

Year 3, Day 207: Chinese Food Train Out of Control

We went to Shangri-La today and we were duty-bound by the code of restaurant-samplers to order everything we read about it in a restaraunt review. Sadly, it was not as good as the stuff described in Chowhound. Another strike against the so-called 'traditonal media.'

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Shangri-La
Bean Curd Skin Roll
1 Spicy Ravioli
Sprouted Pea Tendrils
Chun King Pork
Pork Meatball

Snack
The last of 4 sticks of jerky
100 Pistachios

Dinner
Romaine, Cabbage, Tuna, Feta, Balsamic

On Monday, Emily had signed me up for a massage at a new concept place called "Massage Envy." They are, I suppose, aiming to bring the massage world to mainstream (and from the looks of it, Corporate) America. By lending it legitimacy (see: paying by credit card, real signs, no odors) they are hoping to lure those curious massage-needers who were to afraid to call someone from the back of the Phoenix or duck into the office near where they get their taxes done. You can't judge a concept by one masseuse, but I'm not sold.

Year 3, Day 206: Ruby Sick?

Ruby had a stomach ache this AM. Laura sick earlier this week on Bus. We gave her the benefit of the doubt. Minutes after bus pulled away stomach illness went away, but right around dinner it returned. We determined it was constipation... I made a blender drink of prunes, apricots, blueberries, yogurt and honey and made her drink it. We'll see if that stirs things up.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Stay at home snack
6 oz stonyfield fat free plain yogurt
super chunky peanut butter

Lunch
Salad & 2 Steak tips

At work snack
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
4 Sticks Beef jerky

Dinner
Chicken & Peppers
Hamburger/Cheddar
Cauliflower
20 Cashews

When Emily returned, I headed to work. This of course, meant more snacks. When I returned, everybody seemed fine, no worse for the wear.

Year 3, Day 205: Bad Scallops!

Part of my routine is visiting our favorite Chinese restaurant around the corner. Though I usually demur from eating scallops (bad scallop eating experience when I was younger) my colleague today wanted them so I acquiesced. Unfortunately, my timing was bad as we both determined that they were not fit for eating. The bad news: I had already eaten one when I suggested their unfit quality. Back at work, fearing an attack of bad-scallop-itis, I downed one hundred almonds. The final insult was that there was no walk today.

breakfast
kashi (too much for first time ever= i may be reaching saturation
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

lunch; chan shin yuan
pea tendrils
spicy beef with celery
bad scallops (returned)

snack
1 honeycrisp apple
5 sticks beef jerky
100 almonds
1 coke zero (too sweet)

dinner
hamburger
shrimp
steak
broccoli
1 very silly bbqed cauliflower

Maybe Bobby Flay can cook cauliflower on the grill. But I'm quitting that particular vegetable and cooking medium combination.

Year 3, Day 204: 5768 Getting Started

First day of the new Jewish year begins with the same old breakfast. I realize I write about this a lot, but it's on my mind.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee
Quebec Strawberries (netted at Volante, natch)


Snack
4 Stick Beef Jerky
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Russo's $5.69
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini


Dinner: Bernard's
Boneless Spareribs
Shrimp Soong with Lettuce LEaf
Broccoli

Tonight was the pilot "Daddy and Daughter date." Ruby takes a clay class close to where I work. The class ends at 6pm. So the idea was: I leave a bit early (5:45), go get her, and we go out to eat somewhere. We were supposed to go to Cabot's, which is a great hamburger and ice cream place, but of all things they turned out to be closed on Mondays. So much for the well-thought out plan. I asked her where she wanted to go instead. She said 'the place with the meat." Several unhelpful clues later, I realized she was describing Bernard's, an upscale Chinese restaurant in a nearby mall. So we went there. It's funny, I always want Chinese food, but Emily rarely does. So now my daughter wants to go. Go figure.

Year 3, Day 203: The First Day of the New Year

Workout today, 7 miles in 58 minutes. Felt good, went fast. Sweated a lot. Not tired. Then 60 Ab crunches (bad neck feeling) and 20 squat thrusts. I had to get out there of in a hurry because X was looming. For those of you who have not been following, X is a team member at the gym who properly suspects me of having not worked out with a trainer, which I suppose is a no-no. They want you to have a good consult before working out on all the equipment. I tried to do that a few times, but honestly it just didn't work out. I'm hoping the relationship between me as a paying customer and him as a service provider will not pass into some kind of other horrible situation where I am upbraided for my lack of rule-following.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch;
White Fish & Lox
1 Slice Balthazar Bread with Cheddar Cheese
Peppadews
More Goat Cheese
3 Deviled Eggs

Snack
1.5 Honey Crisp Apples
.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
14 Almonds

Dinner
Steak Tips
Grilled Peppers
Salad

Other
Inside Out Whoopie Pie

I decided to make a devil's food cake today. It was supposed to be a whoopie pie, with two layers of cake and one layer of whoopie, but due to breakage out of the pan, I tried to ice them together but the whole affair just reeked of desperation. As usual, we brought it to our neighbors, who devoured it, but only rated it 'fair.' To be honest, that was probably kind.

Year 3, Day 202: Another Fast Done With

Well I must say that I dislike fasting but since starting the South Beach program it's been a different cup of tea. It's definitely difficult to go without food (and mostly without water) but breaking the fast has become more challenging, too. My old breakfast was bagels, cheese, etc. And mostly I've avoided those. But in my new, relaxed "phase three" mode, I let myself have it.

Break Fast
Cashews
1 Slice Challah
1 Glass Red Wine
1 Glass White Wine
Coffee
1 Whole Wheat Everything Bagel
Cream Cheese
Lox
Whitefish
Assorted Cheeses
Chicken Soup
Peppadews
Pickles

1 taste of ice cream
1 square of chocolate

We had a bunch of folks over including Jillz and following the breakfast we watched the Red Sox game. As tradition has it, we pepper our fanatical Red Sox fans with questions that they find irritating but answer because they love us and they're at our house. The Red Sox need help and we summon up the rally monkey. This has the desired effect and we all go to bed happy, and very, very full.

Year 3, Day 201: Yom Kippur Evening

Yom Kippur night means not eating for a whole next day. Eeek.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
4 sticks beef jerky
1 honey crisp apple
1 bag microwave popcorn

lunch; russo's ($5.95)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

dinner:
steak
cauliflower
20 cashews

The idea is that for your last meal of the year you eat meat, and for the first meal of the new year you eat dairy. Jewish law forbids meat and dairy from being consumed at the same meal, which is why I cannot generally observe the kosher laws, since it would have prohibited me from having a bacon cheeseburger, which is simply one of the greatest foods known to man. That aside, we had a modest meal and I, prepared to fast.

Year 3, Day 200: Date Night, ZBA and Erev Yom Kippur

Today was better than yesterday in that I did not have to eat improperly refrigerated food. I did, however have to eat Driscoll Strawberries, which I think is a violation of the Geneva Convention. Me and a co-worker went for a not-so-fast walk today.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Russo's ($5.65)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Snack
Microwave Popcorn
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
30 Almonds

Dinner: Farm Grill Rotisserie
Grilled Chicken over Greek Salad
2 pieces of pita bread (toasted)
Lima Beans

Emily and I played a set of tennis outside (our usual internal court was taken) and though she took the early lead 3-0, I caught up and it was 6-6 one hour later when it got too dark to play. We went over to the FGR for dinner and it was actually quite nice. Then we zipped over to the ZBA meeting where our objections were naturally, overruled.

Year 3, Day 199: Broken Refrigerator

Have you ever realized something was wrong, but not really understood what it was? This was the case as I went through the morning breakfast ritual, until the painful realization dawned upon me that our refrigerator was broken. Now I have a lot of problems with our refrigerator. First of all, I don't like it. Second of all, it was supposed to have an ice maker but it doesn't, or it wasn't connected, or something but the bottom line is I have to make ice in ice trays and someone in my house who is tall enough to reach the ice trays without a chair is always putting them back with only one ice cube in them. But I digress. So I realize the refrigerator, is in fact not working. I call the number on the refrigerator and they tell me they can't get anyone to my house until Monday. Does that work for me? I ask how I can get it done sooner. The people at Maytag tell me to call the local repair shop they are contracting with and see if they will come sooner. I call them and ask and they say "Maytag tells you to call because they could have us come sooner but it costs more so they have you do it. But we can't come out any sooner unless they pay." I hung up the phone and started working Angie's List.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Russo's ($5.05)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini


Snack
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
1/2 Honey Crisp Apple
1.5 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Dinner
Romaine, Broccoli, Tuna, Balsamic

I finally got a local guy that would come by today and do it, and he fixed it for a hundred and something dollars. I continue to hate my refrigerator and long for the day when I can rip its door off and put it out on the street.

Year 3, Day 198: Day of Meetings in New York

Got up at 6:30AM so I could work out in small, poorly ventilated, hot gym with television on at a volume that would deafen nursing home residents. Did about 5 minutes on the stationary bike when the elliptical (crappy little one, home machine, not professional strength) opened up. I did a 30 minute work out, and so was slightly late for my room service breakfast.

I ordered an omelet and wheat toast. They brought me white toast in cellophane which I left exactly as they delivered it. It also came with hash browns (unadvertised) which I inhaled like a lover's scent, taking one sinful crispy bite and putting the rest away to waste.

Breakfast
Omelet (ham, cheese, onion, mushroom, pepper).
coffee

Snack
1 Banana
3 Strawberries

Lunch: 15 East
Soup
Heirloom Edamame
Sashimi Platter

Various/Train Snacks/Dinner
Almonds & Cashews & Smokehouse Almonds
6 Sticks Beef jerky
1 Honey crisp Apple
5 dried apricots
1 oz Boston LIte Popcorn

Following my unfortunate choice of black and blue tuna at Wolfgang's last night, I was not feeling very good or very hungry when we broke for lunch at around twelve. Again, we had managed to choose an excellent lunch spot with the help of some very credible in-corporate advice. However, the thought of more uncooked fish was literally turning me green, so I ordered eel, but the waiter suggested it wouldn't be enough, so I ordered the sashimi platter. Out of financial and biological obligation I ate it, but I did not enjoy it as I should have, so it was quite a waste overall.

In a fury of last-minute luck, we managed to get on the 6:00pm train instead of the 7:00pm. Of course, this meant no dinner was available, so I ate what I had with me, which was just as well, because the thought of the Amtrak dinner was literally going to make me hurl.

Year 3, Day 197: Big Trip to New York (Again)

Today I once again prepared to go to New York State. It's the third time within 10 days and to three different parts of the state. It is for work and lots of big meetings.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Milled Flaxseed
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Russo's ($5.21)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Train Snack
1 Honey Crisp Apple
Nearly Poisonous Almonds

Dinner: Wolfgang's
Mixed Greens
Shrimp Cocktail (4 Shrimp, weighting a pound)
1/2 slice of canadian bacon (why a side dish, I don't know)
Black and Blue Tuna
Broccoli sauteed in garlic and olive oil (but tasted funny)
Cottage Fries (which were really potato chips)
2 Glasses red Wine, 1 glass Riesling (way too sweet)\

My colleague and I picked Wolfgang's as the place to go after vetting many different places in New York to have dinner. Though it is a famous steak house, I for some reason decided I needed to eat a piece of fish, and so ordered the black and blue tuna. This was a mistake. It wasn't that it didn't taste good, it's that I am a true blue idiot for going to one of New York's premier steak houses and ordering fish. Really, it's not a defensible choice. Everything else was quite good, but as is frequently the case after a night at a New York steak house, the night was full of fitful sleep, club soda and I think a few Tums.

Year 3, Day 196: New Gym Equipment

Today all the elliptical were full so I found myself on a new piece of equipment, which I think is some sort of next-gen elliptical cross trainer. I did 3 miles and about 30 minutes. Then i did 100 Ab crunches and 30 squat thrusts.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Milled Flaxseed
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Breast of Chicken/Broccoli

Snacks: 1.5 Corn Muffins, 2 Chocolate Chip Cookies
1 Bag of Microwave Popcorn, Yogurt & Peanut Butter

Dinner: Salad/Hamburger/Cauliflower

The baking continues. Now I am trying to make the perfect chocolate chip cookies. While they always come out "good," in the words of U2, "I still haven't found what I'm looking for." I love cookie dough, and I love making cookies. But the perfect chocolate chip cookie is still eluding me.

Year 3, Day 195: Back from New York x2 Out of 3

Except for the rather cruel cutoff time (8:30AM), the hotel breakfast is really swell. It would be nice if they would change the menu occasionally, but I guess they are in business to serve the business traveler, not to tickle the culinary funny bones of the occasional family traveler. Ruby likes the waffles but it would be nice if they could turn out a tasty muffin instead of serving the heat-n-serve type.

Breakfast
Everything Omelet
Honeydew
Bacon
Coffee, too much

On the road/pre-snack
Tamari Almonds (luckily Ruby found love with Tamari almonds and took them away from me)
Dried fruit

Lunch/Shady Glen
Cheeseburger with Mustard
Garden Salad
2 Onion Rings, 2 French Fries

Bag-popped popcorn

Dinner
Salad/Tuna/Feta/Balsamci
2 tablespoons peanut butter

My brother had told me about this place called "Shady Glen" that he'd heard about on the phantom gourmet. Their claim to fame was that they serve 4-slice cheeseburgers that have been cooked into a triangular cheese tent. We pulled over to go there and the line was long and we were all hungry and cranky and Ruby and I got into a fight because she wouldn't behave and I told her we couldn't go and she should get back in the car. Then the line disappeared and Emily was stuck in the car with both kids crying and couldn't get out. I didn't have a coat on and it was the type of place where I knew if I got up my seat would be gone in a Connecticut second. I called her on the cell phone and hoped for the best. Though nobody ordered a cheeseburger (except for me) we determined that it was a charming place but a bit too far from the highway (15 minutes) to be worth a regular trip. And really, the food was like bowling alley food but you had to wait longer and there was no bowling. When we got home, exhausted, we ate what was in the house, which is of course, was made of nuts.

Still, it was good to be home.

Year 3, Day 194: Mood Foods

Staying at the hotel means a hotel breakfast. Usually a big omelet for me, and some kind of sugar-shock for Ruby. Ordinarily we'd carry a lot of stuff back for Emily and the baby (who sleep late) but they're not staying at the hotel, so it's just us. As usual, there's very few people at breakfast, and Ruby is the only kid for MILES.

Breakfast
Omelet with mushrooms, onions, peppers, cheese, ham
honey dew, cantaloupe
almonds, cashews, apricot

lunch:
turkey/cheese/sweet peppers/onions rollup
diet dr. pepper

dinner;
more almonds and some tamari almonds
brisket, turkey
heirloom tomato salad

Mood Foods
Your brain depends on a variety of nutrients to keep itself balanced. Cheetos and beer are not on the list. The scoop on six snacks that will help kick your mind into gear

Your Mood: Anxious
You need to stay sharp through a grueling job interview.

Your Meal: Half a grilled-chicken wrap at lunch, hold the mayo

Here's Why: Eating between 4 and 5 ounces of protein helps your brain create dopamine and norepinephrine, neurochemicals that keep you alert, says Judith Wurtman, Ph.D., author of The Serotonin Power Diet.

Your Mood: Stressed
You have to meet a deadline without being overwhelmed.

Your Meal: A handful of sesame seeds while you're working

Here's Why: Stress hormones can deplete your body's supply of magnesium, reducing your stress-coping abilities and increasing your risk of developing high blood pressure, says Elizabeth Somer, R.D., author of Food & Mood.

Your Mood: Restless
You need some serious shut-eye before the big day.

Your Meal: Nonfat popcorn half an hour before you go to bed

Here's Why: The carbs will induce your body to create serotonin, a neurochemical that makes you feel relaxed. "Make sure it's fat-free, because fat will slow the process of boosting serotonin levels," says Somer.

Your Mood: Depressed
Problems at home are doing you in.

Your Meal: Grilled salmon or sushi for dinner

Here's Why: A study in Finland found that people who eat more fish are 31 percent less likely to suffer from depression. And skip sweet, simple carbs -- the inevitable sugar crash can actually deepen depression.

Your Mood: Insecure
Your confidence is waning as the night wears on.

Your Meal: A snack-size chocolate bar when she's in the bathroom

Here's Why: Chocolate contains a host of chemicals to brighten your mood, Somer says, including anadamine, which targets the same receptors as THC, and phenylethylamine, which produces a cozy, euphoric feeling.

Your Mood: Flummoxed
You've forgotten your last two deadlines.

Your Meal: Pineapple chunks for a snack or a cup of berries in your oatmeal

Here's Why: Antioxidants from the most-colorful fruits and vegetables help pick off the free radicals that wear away at your memory. "Because your brain consumes so much oxygen, oxidants do heavy damage there," says Somer.

Go to the next page and learn how your diet can prevent migraines...

Foods that Cure
Minor tweaks in your diet can help fend off everything from splitting headaches to heart attacks. Three dietary tweaks from Joy Bauer, R.D., author of Joy Bauer's Food Cures:


Migraine Headaches
Migraines have many food causes. Keep a meal log for a month to see which triggers affect your head.

Eat This: Foods rich in healthy fats, such as olive oil, avocado, and salmon, help reduce inflammation, a catalyst for migraines. Riboflavin, found in lean beef and grains, helps cells maintain energy reserves, which can prevent the onset of migraines.

Not That: Nitrites, found in deli meats, bacon, and hot dogs; aspartame, the artificial sweetener found in diet soft drinks; caffeine


Irritable-Bowel Syndrome
One in five Americans is affected by IBS. A careful diet is the best cure.

Eat This: Soft foods and foods rich in soluble fiber, such as oatmeal, barley, bananas, and sweet potatoes

Not That: When symptoms are strong, limit vegetables, fruits, and whole grains, which are hard for the body to break down. Other common triggers: dairy products, spicy foods, alcohol, and caffeine



Cardiovascular Disease
A diet of heart-healthy fats may help prevent you from being one of the 1.5 million Americans who have heart attacks each year.

Eat This: Foods that boost good cholesterol (HDL), like canned tuna, mackerel, olive oil, avocado, and most nuts

Not That: Trans fat-laden foods, such as margarine; refined carbohydrates, which spike blood-thickening triglycerides; sugary soft drinks, juice, and white bread


http://www.menshealth.com/cda/article.do
?site=MensHealth&channel=health&category=sexual.health
&conitem=a64b455ae9824110VgnVCM10000013281eac____&cm_mmc=DailyDoseNL-_-2007_09_14-_-MainBlk-_-Testosterone_Under_Attack&page=0

2007 RODALE INC. ALL rights reserved

Year 3, Day 193: Trip to New York

Doesn't this headline ever get tired? I sure get tired of writing it. We head West to New York to both celebrate 5768 and to visit my father who has just had surgery. He warns me to stay 'thin and limber' to avoid needing the same surgery. So I can just add surgery to the list of things besides apnea, diabetes, etc. etc. I need to worry about and stay on the program. I must confess, it has been a rough few weeks, and even I am at a loss to explain why. However, major surgery for a parent could be stress-inducing, I'll grant you. Then there's the new year and the day of atonement...and then there's this new job....

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

On the road snack
Wee bit of beef jerky
some hard boiled egg-white
2 prunes, 1 dried peach

Lunch
3 pickles
1/2 leek omelet
cashews/almonds

Dinner
1 slice brisket, 1 slice turkey
heirloom tomato salad
pickles & peppers

1/2 honeycrisp apple

1 bite of a brownie

I did a lot of cooking and shopping at Russo's for the holiday, really the fist time I ever brought baked goods to a holiday celebration. The crisp was a hit, and so were the brownies, even though the experts agreed they were overcooked by a few minutes. I used the cooks illustrated recipe, and I must tell you, they are good-good-good (the recipes). I am going to try their corn muffin and chocolate chip cook recipe next.

Year 3, Day 192: L'shana Tova

Okay, I do believe in omens: my freezer is on the fritz and my basement is full of flies. Neither of these things is very encouraging and we must be OK with leaving them in their state as we pack the car (again) and head to New York.

Breakfast
Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
1 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
4 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 Apple
Strawberries

Lunch: Panera
Greek Salad
+1 Fuji Apple (Small)

Dinner:
Chicken Breast
1.5 Ears of Corn
Salad

Dessert
Tiny pieces of pie crust and brownie that fell off on the paper

I am now on Brownies and pies. We'll see how that goes over.

Year 3, Day 191: OMG Return of the 100 Nut Day

You really can't get around it: 25 Nuts=170 Calories, Therefore 100 is nearly 700 calories. There's really no way to make that OK, unless possibly you're running a marathon.

Breakfast
Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
6 Sticks Beef Jerky
1 Very Bad Pink Lady Apple
100 Almonds

Lunch: Russo's ($5.21)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Dinner
Fish
Cabbage & Balsamic
Edamame

Feel quite bad after my flour binge last night and nut-binge this afternoon. Really bad. Lots of stress in my life right now: Father in hospital, trip to NY for the holidays, travel to NYC next week.

Year 3, Day 190: Back to School Night

I was busy as a bee baking last night and I got to bring my wares to the School, where, sadly, no one ate very much of anything. I think this is because 1) nothing is labeled and 2) there is so much sugary-sweet stuff; I just think it's an embarrassment of riches. Everyone would eat a few things, but it was literally a Chinese Buffet of dessert items; apple cake; several kinds of chocolate chip cookies and of course, my banana cake and my spice cookies.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
6 Jerky
2 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Lunch: Russo's ($5.21)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Dinner
Hamburger
Hot Peppers
Cauliflower
Pickle

Dessert
2 Spice Cookies
1 Slice Banana-Toffee Cake

Yeah, well I broke down and ate some of my own stuff. What are you going to do?

Year 3, Day 189: Return From Woodstock

We got up and improvised a breakfast with some takeout eggs from a local market and a few other ingredients. Then David and I set sail on some of the worst driving conditions I've ever witnessed. We white knuckled it through the worst patch and then were inspired to go to Bub's Barbecue, allegedly near Northampton. However, they gave us bad directions and we bailed. I had to make it back for Ruby's soccer game so we just stopped at a Stop and Shop (v. depressing) got some diet cokes and got back on the road.

Breakfast
Egg, Sausage and Cheese
A few slices of cheese (Horseradish Cheddar and Pepper Jack)
2 Melon SLices, 1/2 papaya slice
Coffee

On the road snack
More Popcorn
Coke Zero

Lunch:
1 Beef Kebab, Green Peppers, hot Peppers
Cheddar

Post Soccer Snack
6 oz Stonyfield Yogurt
Peanut Butter

Dinner
1 Chicken Breast (Grilled)
Big Salad

Various cookie doughs and banana dough. I have been grilling nearly every day since I got home from Martha's Vineyard, which is incredible when you think that I've had the grill since 2003 and had only used it once previous to Martha's Vineyard.

Year 3, Day 188: Trip to Woodstock

My father is having surgery on Monday, and it's quite a tricky and intense one. It will last 5 hours and it will take weeks or months of rehabilitation. We figured we'd go have one last hurrah. In the AM I made corn muffins and snuck in a workout. It helps immeasurably to have worked out before going on a long trip, I was totally calm and relaxed. But maybe that has something to do with not having to pack for the kids or keep them entertained...

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

A 60 minute workout, 5.5 miles

Lunch
Salad, with Tuna
1 & 1/2 corn muffins (but they were small)

On the road snack
popcorn, mixed fancy nuts

Dinner: Emerson
1 Glass of Wine
1/2 spring roll
1/2 whole wheat roll
house salad
swordfish with broccoli
a bite of cheesecake
a bite of apple crisp

later on at the ranch
2 glasses wine
more mixed nuts

David and I had a terrifying ride to the Catskills region, where my father lives. Many times we couldn't see the highway we were on and when we arrived on the local roads, we witnessed lightning coming down from the sky, in a thick ropy sword unlike anything I've ever seen before. As we continued to travel towards our destination we came across the point where the lightning had hit--a transformer that was currently on fire in the middle of the road. We had considered stopping at a store a long the way but literally as we pulled into its parking lot we saw their lights go out-- we continued to drive. As it was the lighting meant we had to go to a different restaurant, but C'est la vie.

Year 3, Day 187: Shangri La, Ginger Gookies

We discovered that the cousin of the owner os Chang SHin Yuan has a restaurant in Belmont called SHangri-La. We went with high hopes and am glad to say we were not disappointed. We eschewed such Chinese favorites as pig ear soup and crispy sour tripe for their more traditional successes like "tea-smoked duck" "twice cooked pork" and "sprouted pea pods." Their were no forks on the tables; no caucasians in the restaurant. We feasted.

Breakfast
Kashi
No Heritage flakes, had to use Flax Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
6 pieces jerky
2 oz Boston Lite Popcorn
1 Apple

Lunch: Shangri-La
Tea-Smoked Duck
Sprouted Pea Pods
Twice Cooked Pork

Dinner
Salmon
Cauliflower

Ginger cookies (2)

My friend and colleague Carolyn gave me an incredible Ginger Cookie recipe that is literally, the best thing I ever ate. The only thing missing is fresh pieces of ginger that I might put into the next batch. A great baking arrow to add to my weapons basket.

Year 3, Day 186: Tennis

Watching the US Open at Night it's very inspirational. Emily and I got out on the court and played three sets. I won the first set 6-2, but Emily took sets 2 and 3, and 4-6 and 2-6. We skipped going out to eat to come home see our kids and watch more tennis.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Snack
100 Almonds
1 Old Smokey
4 Sticks Beef Jerky

Lunch: Russo's' ($4.78)
Romaine, red pepper, feta
chicken, broccoli, mushrooms
balsamic vinegar, pepperocini

Dinner:'
Egg/Cheese/Turkey Bacon Joseph's Wrap
Salsa

We didn't play any tennis on Martha's Vineyard, despite bringing our rackets, so it was good to get out on the court again.

Year 3, Day 185: Popcorn Can Kill You

Consumers, not just factory workers, may be in danger from fumes from buttery flavoring in microwave popcorn, according to a warning letter to federal regulators from a doctor at a leading lung research hospital.

A pulmonary specialist at Denver's National Jewish Medical and Research Center has written to federal agencies to say doctors there believe they have the first case of a consumer who developed lung disease from the fumes of microwaving popcorn several times a day for years.

"We cannot be sure that this patient's exposure to butter flavored microwave popcorn from daily heavy preparation has caused his lung disease," cautioned Dr. Cecile Rose. "However, we have no other plausible explanation."

The July letter, made public Tuesday by a public health policy blog, refers to a potentially fatal disease commonly called popcorn lung that has been the subject of lawsuits by hundreds of workers at food factories exposed to chemicals used for flavoring.

In response to Rose's finding, the Flavor and Extract Manufacturers Association issued a statement Tuesday recommending that its members reduce "to the extent possible" the amount of diacetyl in butter flavorings they make. It noted that diacetyl is approved for use in flavors by the federal Food and Drug Administration.

One national popcorn manufacturer, Weaver Popcorn Co. of Indianapolis, said last week it would replace the butter flavoring ingredient because of consumer concern. Congress has also been debating new safety measures for workers in food processing plants exposed to diacetyl.

The FDA said in an e-mail it is evaluating Rose's letter and "carefully considering the safety and regulatory issues it raises."

Fred Blosser, spokesman for the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, said it is the first case the institute has seen of lung disease apparently linked to popcorn fumes outside the workplace.

The occupational safety arm of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said it is working on a response to the letter.

William Allstetter, spokesman for National Jewish Medical, confirmed the letter was sent by Rose, a specialist in occupational and environmental lung diseases and director of the hospital's Occupational and Environmental Medicine Clinic.

"There have been no other cases that we know of other than the industrial occupational ones," Allstetter said.

Rose acknowledged in the letter that it is difficult to confirm through one case that popping buttered microwave popcorn at home can cause lung disease.

However, she said she wanted to alert regulators of the potential public health implications.

Rose said the ailing patient, a man whom she wouldn't identify, consumed "several bags of extra butter flavored microwave popcorn" every day for several years.

He described progressively worsening respiratory symptoms of coughing and shortness of breath. Tests found his ability to exhale was deteriorating, Rose said, although his condition seemed to stabilize after he quit using microwave popcorn.

She said her staff measured airborne levels of diacetyl in the patient's home when he cooked the popcorn. The levels were "similar to those reported in the microwave oven exhaust area" at the quality assurance unit of the popcorn plant where the affected employees worked, she said.

David Michaels, of the George Washington University School of Public Health, who first published Rose's letter on his blog, The Pump Handle, said the finding is another reason for federal regulators to crack down on diacetyl exposure by workers and consumers.

"This letter is a red flag, suggesting that exposure to food flavor chemicals is not just killing workers, but may also be causing disease in people exposed to food flavor chemicals in their kitchens," Michaels wrote on his public health policy blog.


Breafkast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: New Ginza
Edamame
Double Salad
Sashimi (no white rice)

Snack
1 Old Smokey
2 oz Boston Lite Popcorn

Dinner
Salad with Feta
Broccoli
String Beans
Grilled SHrimp

Some of Magnolia's Chocolate Cheesecake
1/2 Jello Pudding

Still trying to get back into the swing of the things. Haven't been back to Russo's yet. Who said "Wake me when September comes?"

Year 3, Day 184: Back to Grind

Oh God, please don't make me go back to work. Please. Please. Please. Please. It's so immature to plan ways to go back to Martha's Vineyard in the middle of the night and then make up a lie about it to your boss and staff. But sometimes that's what you have to do when it's 3AM the night before you go back to work after 10 days.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch: Chan Shing Yuan
Moo Shi Pork
Shrimp with Vegetables

Snack
4 oz Dale THomas Popcorn
.5 oz Boston LIte Popcorn
'Beef Jerky

Dinner
Pork
Cauliflower

Blah. Blah. Blah.

Year 3, Day 183: Red Sox Game

My big plan was to come back from Martha's Vineyard, and then Ruby and I would go to a Red Sox game on Monday night (Labor Day). But Ruby had had a play date, and had absolutely had it by the evening, and so Emily and I went to the game. We couldn't stay long because we were seated next to two drunken louts who were not only loud and drunk but judging by their collection of beers, they had no intention of slowing down on either. Though we were seated behind first base, they were so loud, the people at home plate could hear what they were saying. Later on, my friend Jill told me about Fan Services, but by then it was too late. We skipped. En route, Emily and I could not believe how different the T, Kenmore Square and the entire Fenway Park experience had become. We were literally like time-travellers trying to cope with a new, strange future. Of course, everyone was just laughing at how we didn't know how the T ticket system worked.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch
Hamburger
Salad
Ribs
Hot Dog
1 chip, 1 cauliflower, 1 broccoli

Dinner:
Breast of Chicken, Hot Dog
String Benas
1/2 Ear of Corn

Dessert
Blueberry Crisp
Glass of Wine

I continue baking (especially with all the leftovers from the Vineyard) and I keep up the wine program. I'm finding it very relaxing and wine-licious.

Year 3, Day 182, Back to the Grind (Pre Grind Edition)

Today was back to the gym. Seven miles in 65 minutes. 100 Ab crunches. Plus 40 Sit ups. Then, a lot of almonds and cashews. But what the hell, the 34s still fit. When the stress gets going, I start baking. Today it was banana cake with Toffee chips and pecans.

Breakfast
Kashi Go Lean!
Heritage Flakes
Strawberries
Blueberries
Banana
Unsweetened Soy Milk
Coffee

Lunch
Tuna/Salad

Other
Almonds
Cashews
1 Slice of Toscano Salami
1 Slice of Banana Toffee Cake

Dinner
Trout
Broccoli

Labor Day Fireworks
Popcorn
Glass of Wine

Tonight we went out to see "Labor Day Fireworks" whatever that is. Magnolia had a great time until the fireworks started---I immediately had to cart her out, crying hysterically to the nearby Star Market, where I endeavored to keep her occupied at every 'crack' of thunderous sounding roman candle explosions. There was a lot of improvised talk whenever there was a noise, "Is this bunny scared? Does he want some hamburger rolls?" A lot of not very imaginative patter was spawned from the unkempt shelves of a picked-over Star Market (Shaw's). Though Emily and Ruby and their friends could have gotten home on their own, Magnolia and I needed to stay in the market, so we just ended up shopping. I think she was no worse for the wear, but we learned our lesson.

Year 3, Day 181: Return from the Vineyard

"When you find the place that your heart belongs, you'll never leave" - Written in Your Heart, Babie in the Princess and the Pauper

Today reminded med of Courtney telling me 'the germans are coming'. It was his way of saying 'hurry up, there's no time to dawdle." Emily and I made our ferry for 11:00am, which for most parents is eons of time, but as our kids have been getting up at 9 and we were supposed to be there at 10:00AM and it was in Vineyard Haven, not Oak Bluffs, we thought we'd be pressed for time. Additionally, when you're trying to get out of a rental house after a week, there a lot of nooks and crannies to un-inhabit. Forget just getting your stuff out; you have to leave the place better than you found it. Plus, feed and round up your kids. That's a lot to do in about an hour. We made it with seconds to spare.

Breakfast
Kashi (plus some Annie's Honey Bunnies and 2 Min-Wheats)
heritage flakes
strawberries
blueberries
banana
unsweetened soy milk
coffee

EN Rote to Ferry
A Few bites of Emily's Peanut Butter Bread
a bite of a chocolate croissant, a bite of a chocolate donut

Ride Home/Lunch
3 Sticks Beef Jerky
2 Roll Mops Roast Beef, Cheese & Mustard
2 Cheese Sticks
1 Bite of Zucchini Bread

Snackz
Almonds, Almonds, Almonds
1 Jazz Apple (Split with Ruby)

Dinner
Steak Tips
1 Ear of Corn
Salad with Feta

Dessert
1/2 CHocolate Peanut Butter Thing (purchased from Chocklit shop on Island)

One of the first times in recorded history of me and Emily, and our nascent family that we ever returned from a trip and felt kind of sorry about having to be home. The music ("High School Musical 2" and "Princess and the Pauper") the nearly perfect (though not hot weather); the company (my family and her family) and the fact that I kicked my laptop to the curb meant that we really, honestly had a relaxing vacation. And even though we still had a few days to ourselves before it all started again, we could all already tell, without saying anything, that we missed our second home on Martha's Vineyard. We still wanted to be there, where no one called us, no cars ever drove by (unless it was the Garbage Man trying to avoid picking up the garbage) and the calming ocean was everywhere. I guess there's always next year...