The worst day of the year to be called for jury duty is the Monday morning after Daylight Savings Time kicks in. Particularly when you have to show up at 8 a.m. (really 7 a.m.) when you aren’t used to getting up until 8:30.
Do I need to be awake to complete my civic duty?
For the nth year in a row, I decided to join the Self (Magazine) Challenge. This year, though, I haven’t shortchanged myself by compromising the nutrition part away on the first day. (However, I haven’t done any of the exercising yet, so it’s still an ongoing process.)
The Self Challenge happens every year in March, April, and May and encourages you, as my friend Elspeth put it, to get in shape for bathing suit season. Since graduating from college twelve years ago, I’ve put on quite a bit of weight and every year I say I’m going to do something about it.
My goal is to be more mindful about what I’m eating and the challenge suggests limiting yourself to one “treat” per day (in addition to other suggested diet modifications). My sweet tooth has always been my downfall and I’ve found that I’m eating far fewer calories without multiple treats each day (and with the added threat of having to write down what I’m eating in a food journal). Of course, I don’t have any healthy snacks in the house to supplement my healthier diet with, so I just find myself hungry and crabby all the time. I’ve definitely got to get to Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods this week…
I don’t expect to get back down to my pre-college weight. Or even my post-graduation weight. But I wouldn’t like the doctor to frown at me at my checkup this spring and inquire how I managed to gain so much weight during 2007. If I can at least start the process of healthier living before then, maybe it will be a habit by the time I see her.
Wish me luck.
I apologize for the blog being so quiet, but I’ve been busy. I’ve been working late a lot recently, trying to get things done so I could head north for our annual meeting without cause for concern. I’m not sure I’ve succeeded, but most everything seems to be under control and I think everything I failed to finish can be worked on from Boston.
I’ve also been frantically trying to finish my cardigan. Yes, the sweater that was supposed to be done for my trip to Denver, then for Thanksgiving, then for Christmas, and finally for the end of January is not yet complete. I have a few more inches of never-ending seaming to finish on the left sleeve, button and neck bands to add, buttons to attach, and a few loose ends to weave in from the seaming process. Ultimately, I’ll also need to block the heck out of the darn thing because I failed to comprehend how the sweater was constructed and the body is far shorter than I’d like. (Like four inches too short. Yes, really.) Any suggestions on how to accomplish that are greatly appreciated.
I’m not packed. In fact, many of the clothes I’m planning to take with me are currently on the drying rack. Perhaps I ought not to have waited for the rainiest day of the year thus far to dry things on a deadline. The good thing is that I have picked out the books and knitting projects I’m taking with me.
On the knitting front we have:
Think that’s enough for a weeklong trip?
For reading material, accompanying me will be Walden (the next classic on Karen’s and my list), the first volume of The Chronicles of Chrestomanci (per Jenn’s long-ago recommendation), and The Uncommon Reader (which I hope will make me laugh and forget about the indignity of having to work on one’s birthday).
I’ve queued up some posts to carry us through until I get back to my folks’ house where I will be able to write more freely.
(Oh, and if anyone is looking for me on Thursday, call my cellphone, as I’ll be working, but reachable. I think.)
This comic made me laugh aloud yesterday when reading the funnies. Ah the joys of being an English major!
I offer it today to you who may not read Frazz on a regular basis.
Yes, yes, My D.C. is late again this week. It’s on its way, I promise.
In the meantime, though, I leave you with a new link to a favorite childhood character:
NPR: Cookie Monster: A Sweet, Sensual Id, Unfiltered.
Make sure you watch the watch the interview. It’s a classic.