Whatcha eating Today VSGers? Sunday, 4/15/2018

Hi all. I got a message yesterday asking if I was okay because I've been MIA. I've had a rough week, primarily attributable to it being the two year anniversary of my dad's death and other things cascading from that. I think I'm on the upswing now. Lance and I met up with my mom and her BFF yesterday for the March for Science and it was a lovely day. Today I've got cookbook club. I'm on top of school work.

QOTD: Do you have a "bad" time of year? When is it and what makes it bad for you? (I'll answer in a comment.)

1: protein shake
2: maybe eggs, I haven't really had those in a while!
3: today is cookbook club, so I'm not 100% sure, but I'm making a steamed lamb dish that sounds intriguing and I also made spiced almonds. The cookbook is called Mourad: New Moroccan.

liquid and vites: on track
exercise: lots of foot pain due to all the walking yesterday, so today is ice and recovery

How about you?

The time between March 21st and April 9th is proving to be a challenging time of year for me. That's my dad's birthday and his deathday, so lots of reminders of him close together.

Good morning! It is supposed to rain here today but the sun is out. I think I'll take Justice for a walk when I finish my coffee! Today is a day of laundry, beginning packing and having a contractor come to estimate some possible Fall jobs. If it stays sunny, my packing motivation is going to drop...

QOTD: My bad time of year is from early February (around Super Bowl time) to March 22. That's when DD was going through her final surgery due to cancer, leading up to a terminal diagnosis and her death on 3/22/2005. I kind of re-live everything in my mind over that time period every year and just generally feel a bit down.

Have a great Sunday, whatever you have planned!

2 Years post-op

Always lots of coffee...

B: Eggs scrambled with cottage cheese

L: Deli turkey

D: probably grilled salmon

S: Yogurt and/or mozzarella/prosciutto sticks

I don't personally have a hard time of year. And yes, those death dates are so very hard. I guess I am blessed. My daughter suffers from Seasonal Affective Disorder and it is so very difficult for her.

B. Scrambled eggs and turkey sausage

L. Cheese and apple and dry roasted peanuts

D. Pork chop and green beans

S. Fudgesickle ( my husband gets pecan pie and ice cream)

Will ride my stationary bike for at least 10 miles today, since none yesterday. It is snowing here in Iowa Ick

Not going out until the sidewalks melt!

If you are a fan of fudgesicles, Kroger makes their own brand that are low fat/ no sugar added. They are delicious, 60 calories, and they really do the trick when I want a sweet.

We had a wonderful day yesterday. My nephews came over and we played games all afternoon. Today is chores in between watching shows with my mom. We watch something, then get up and tackle a chore, then back to watch something, rinse and repeat. It makes for a nice, relaxing day where we also accomplish stuff. I also crotchet while watching TV so it is double relaxing.

QOTD: I would say Christmas. It is sometimes very difficult. Probably because it reminds me of family and my family is quite fragmented and dysfunctional.

Meal 1: Coffee, PP protein shake

Meal 2: TBD

Meal 3: LO Beef and Mushroom

Meal 4: Hot dogs (no bun for me) with cheese sauce and a smidge of LO corn. (Again we didn't have this... so we will shoot for this meal again tonight.)

Snack: 2 cups of tea with stevia. Protein drink or jerky if needed.

Water and Vits: On track

Good morning! I'm glad you're back, Gwen.

I'm at the second job again today. I'm feeling a little disappointed. I met with an advisor about getting my doctorate, and while my qualifications and scores are sufficient, I simply cannot justify the expense. Even with partial tuition deductions for being a PS teacher, the degree would cost me roughly $35,000 over 3 years.

This wouldn't be so bad if I pursued a Principal position immediately, but I want to stay in the trenches for several more years and then move into Curriculum and Instruction development and leadership... neither of which rivals a principal salary. I'm going to put this idea on the back burner for about 8 years and then revisit it.

Qotd: Well, June is kind of hard for me. June 27th is my dad's birthday, and he died when I was 15. Father's Day is also that month... If he had not died so traumatically, maybe I would be able to deal with it better. He also died three days before Christmas, so the holidays have never been the same. DW is in her thirties and has literally all of her grandparents, her parents, and all her aunts and uncles... so it's kind of hard for her to understand. However, she lost her stepfather last year right after Thanksgiving, so honestly just the whole holiday season... has some bad memories

M1: hillshire salami small plate-- I don't regularly eat food for breakfast, but I I did my aerobics video as soon as I got to work and was ravenous afterwards.

M2- premier chocolate shake

M3- deli buffalo chicken and cheddar cheese

M4- turkey loin and side salad with goat cheese

So glad to see you, Gwen! You were missed.

QOTD: I struggle around Christmas/my birthday. My mom passed away 7 years ago at Christmas. It was not expected. She went into the hospital on 12/19 and passed away 12/30 and was mostly unconscious that whole time so much went unsaid. My birthday is 12/27, so it really tainted all of those celebrations for me. 7 years on, I'm finally starting to reclaim them, but it's still hard.

B - coffee, yogurt, berries, grain free granola

L - chicken skewers

D - real good enchiladas

S - protein shake?

Hello everyone! Pretty chill Sunday here. A little shopping and piano lessons for the kids.

QOTD: December used to be rough for me. My uncle died of suicide in December when I was 9. My aunt's birthday and deathday are near each other in December as well. I was very close to and loved her dearly and losing her much too early was so painful. We lost him 25 years ago and her 16 years ago, so it's gotten so much easier. My aunt was a reverend, an activist, and a life-long volunteer for those in need, so years ago I started doing things in her honor in December (volunteering, donating to a cause near to her heart, etc.) and that eased the pain as well. Now it's a time when I feel a little closer to her. My dad still gets down around that time though, since they were his only biological siblings, losing them broke his heart.

b - Coffee & Protein

l - shrimp

d - burger no bun

Good morning! Glad to see you back Gwen!

I hope others are experiencing some sun today because I am not, not at all. The grey and gloomy skies are going to drive me mad:-) Today I am going with my aunt and uncle to a wildlife preserve called Nine Pipes. It's a beautiful drive, but mostly we are going for the food. The restaurant has the best beer bread roles I have ever tasted in my life. I am going to try really hard to limit myself to just one!

QOTD-The anniversary of my grandmother's death, June 7th 2000. She was such a strong presence in our lives, I still feel her absence every day, but worse on this day.

B-Bullet coffee

L-PP shake, strawberry

S-1/2 apple w/almond butter

D-Chicken wings and one beer bread role:-)

E-Early walk with my dog.

Have a wonderful Sunday everyone!