Pollen, Yuzu & Goldfish in Atlanta

Yesterday we had a great day getting to Atlanta. The weather was a bit chillier than expected and I had to change from shorts to jeans to stay warm, but the traffic wasn't nearly as bad as I expected for a city hosting the NCAA Final Four. The traffic we have seen is all green! Almost every car native to Atlanta is covered in green pollen! It's amazing how much is on them, they look like they are covered in dirt!

We're staying at the Hilton Garden Inn ~ it's a really nice 7 floor hotel off 285. We got it through priceline.com for only $42! It's really nice and has an indoor pool and jacuzzi, which we just got back from. Frank can't believe I got up at 7 am on a Saturday (I really can't either)! But I was in the mood for a swim. It was nice. Now were back in the room and he's eating cold pizza left over from a late night dinner in the room. I am, of course, updating my blog using the hotel's free wireless internet. Isn't technology great?

Something else that is great is SUSHI, or SASHIMI to be exact. Yesterday we ate breakfast before leaving the house and were pretty hungry when we made it to Atlanta. We checked in (changed clothes) and headed over the the seafood restaurant Goldfish. It was so good! We sat at the sushi bar, where Chef Alex started us off with Ahi Tuna with seaweed, cucumbers, bean sprouts and his own special sauce. It was complimentary! Frank told him he wanted to try different things that aren't usually offered around home and just to surprise us. Well, he did such a wonderful job. We sampled white tuna, yellowtail tuna, fatty tuna, giant clam, and bonito. A couple of the dishes were prepared with Yuzu and Nashi Pears and it was so good, I wanted a straw just to drink the sauce! The citrus from the fruits added to the soy sauce kind of cook the fish so it doesn't taste so "raw" and it was all so delicious! I highly recommend this restaurant if you like sushi and are going to be in Atlanta. They had a great looking regular seafood menu, too, but we only had the sashimi.

Afterwards, we walked around the Perimeter Mall to the 100 Anniversary Celebration for Blue Bell Ice Cream. Frank and I shared on of their little cups of vanilla ice cream (4 points for one, only 2 when shared) it was pretty good, tasted like homemade.

We also went window shopping in the Perimeter Mall for about 3 hours. Nice way to walk off that fish!

Well, I guess I should get going, today we are going to the DeKalb Farmer's Market. TTFN!

Yummy!

Have you tried these? Tonight I had my very first one and they are absolutely delicious. I am not usually the ice cream or popsicle eater in the family but I really like these Cookies and Cream Popsicles and they are only 2 points! Yummy. Even Frank likes them!

.2 A little bit is better than none, right?

Well, I didn't make it to my mini goal of 55 pounds this week, but I'm not down about it. I just have to try harder this week! I was just looking at my weight tracker on the WW web site, and it is very encouraging. Do you know that on October 18, I had lost 26 pounds? Since then, I've doubled that! See, it's all a matter of perspective. Right this moment I am focusing on the positive and that is ... I HAVE LOST 53.6 POUNDS ... and I am wearing clothes I haven't worn in 5 years and hadn't worn in about 15 years before that! So there!

I have also added walking to my daily routine so I am also benefitting from not having to carry an extra 6 gallons of milk* around with me everytime I go for a walk! WOW, where did I put those when I had them? Can you imagine just trying to carry six gallons of milk in from the car to the kitchen, much less, everywhere ... everyday?!

* Weight Watchers Site Information: Beyond the Scales
Disappointed with losing one pound? 25lbs = 3 Gallons of Milk

Do You Watch Dancing with the Stars?

Do you watch that show Dancing with the Stars? I don't get to because Frank thinks it is so silly - along with every other "reality~who's going to win" type show. I pretty much agree, but I was smitten with Emmitt Smith (having always been a Cowboys fan) during last season's shows. This time they have one of my favorites from the early 90's, Ian Ziering. He's the one with the adorable smile and the curly blond hair from Beverly Hills 90210. That was one of my all time favorite shows. I watched every episode and while most girls thought Dylan and Brandon were the hotties, I had a soft spot for Steve! Of course, I was way married with 2 little girls, but I still thought he was the cutest guy on TV. So now, I am begging all of you that get to watch to please let me know how he is doing!

The page posted is Nick and Courtney before the Valentine's Day Dance at West. I cut all those little hearts and paisleys out of the printed paper and then doodled all around them. Thanks for looking!

Cross your fingers for me - tomorrow is weigh-in day and I really want to hit my mini-goal of 5 pounds for this month, 55 total. Wishing...hoping...praying! I've been good and I've added more walking this week. I walked 2 miles on Sunday, 1.5 miles yesterday, and a mile today. My legs are killing me!

Happy Birthday, Tamara

My Sister's Big Weekend

I haven't talked to her in the last few days because I figured she was studying ... and praying ... A LOT! Today and tomorrow are her big days in Charleston! I know everyone who knows and loves her is praying for her nerves to be calmed, for her patient to be what the judges expect, and for the talent the good Lord gave her to come shining through! Wishing you the best, Sis, you are in my prayers all day today!

BTW, Wednesday was WW, and I had a .4! So, I am getting there. Need 1.2 to make that goal of 55 next week. Keep your fingers crossed ... and the goodies behind your back! LOL!

Everyone have a nice weekend, it's supposed to be really pretty! We will be celebrating Tamara's birthday on Saturday at Carrabas (don't remind me about how good that food is!) At WW I asked Tamara what we were going to have on Saturday and she said, "Our 35 Weekly Points!" She's probably right, I don't think Carrabas knows the meaning of the words, SMALL PORTIONS!

Early to Rise, Late to Bed

Is it the new time or my sinus headache that is keeping me up tonight? Not really, sure, maybe a little bit of both mixed with a lot of March Madness! I just couldn't go to sleep before the Tarheels put away those Colonels from Eastern Kentucky. There was a bit of family pride riding on that one! I always told those Kentucky relatives that the problem with their state was that it was just an upside down version of the best state in the Union ... North Carolina. Take a look on the map sometime, I am sure you will notice the resemblance.

So are you keeping up with the brackets? Amanda, Amy, Matt and the rest of the crew at Billy's house are and Amanda added my picks to her list of those to keep up with. According to my records I am 11 for 16 tonight, missing the losses by Duke (I knew they were bad, but going out in the first round? REALLY?), Gonzaga, Marquette, George Washington, and Texas Tech (I just knew Bobby would make it). Of course, all of those would have been upsets if they had won (except Duke) but who knew there would be so little upsets today, that is very unusual! There were only two lower seeds to win, VCU over Duke, which I am sure many people missed, and Xavier over BYU (I picked Xavier) which wasn't a huge upset, just a 9 over an 8 seed. Hopefully I will do much better tomorrow. 68.75% will not cut it!

Today brought really great news - AMY'S CAR IS FIXED! Once Uncle JC ordered the motor and it arrived yesterday, he really worked hard to get it in and ready to go. I was expecting it next week sometime, but looks like she'll get it tomorrow! Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, JC (and Sandra for letting me know he could do that kind of work!) You will never know what this means to our family. Now, we just have to get that leaky sunroof fixed. Maybe the money we are going to save on gas rearranging vehicles and picking Amanda or Amy up every day can help pay for that. All I know is the motor will be a waste if her car keeps flooding and the floor rots out! If it ain't one thing, it's another! But I am truly greatful for JC's help!

2.4! Back on Track!

Today was WW day and I lost 2.4 pounds ... YEAH! Need to lose 1.6 over next two weeks to meet mini-March goal of 55 total! Keep your fingers crossed for me!

Check out my bald headed son with his bald headed friend, Gary. The two of them along with all the boys on JV and Varsity had their heads shaved to honor teammate Matthew Pruitt, who is battling cancer. It's a great show of support and team unity. So far both teams are undeafted at 4-0. P.S. Click Here to see Matt's new blog and more pictures.

 

Please keep Tamara in your thoughts and prayers. She hasn't been in good health in a while and the doctors think they may have it figured out. Hugs & Prayers, T, you know you got mine!

Matt's Sports Diary

Hello All - just wanted to announce the creation of Matt's Sports Diary. I know it has his name on it, but don't expect him to be journaling too much on it. I am going to encourage it, but I don't expect too much! However, you will find his schedules and maybe a recap of the game if I happen to make it. Many of his weekday games are from 4-6 and almost over by the time I get there. Games are $5 per person, so right now it's not financially feasible to attend a game for 30 minutes.

He is doing well, though, having had at least one hit in every game and according to his dad, making an "awesome play at short" in Monday night's game!

I am going to include a link to his blog on my page in the left hand column, but if you want to add it to your favorites, it is Matt's Sports Diary . I hope this will help all those that care keep up with him! And I hope it might encourage Matthew, and the girls as well, to start journaling, too!

Thankful for Nathan

Here is a layout I helped Tamara with to frame for Del. It's his son, Nathan, who is in the Army. After we finished, I scanned it in and added my thoughts and express my gratitude for his and other soldiers' dedication.

.6 (unfortunately that's a +.6) but I deserve it

Well, if you ever wondered if you could eat 22 Shortbread Girl Scout Cookies in one weekend and still lose weight, you can stop wondering. (I know that is something you have always questioned, right?) This past week I have had the munchies really, really bad. It started on Thursday evening when I just HAD to have these little chicken wings (including the Hidden Valley Ranch) and it didn't stop until Frank had gone back to work at 6 am on Monday morning. It didn't help that he was here cooking up delicious seared tuna filet, tasty prime rib sandwiches, and a huge vegetable omelet with bacon~told you I deserved it! I guess it's a good thing I did some exercise, too! I actually used all 35 extra points for the first time ever - and I think I may have actually used another 10-15. But, all things said, maybe I needed a small binge and that little plus sign to motivate me for the next 49 pounds I have to lose. Either way, I can still say I have lost 51 pounds, and yes, Mom, Helen, & Tamara, that is SOMETHING TO BE PROUD OF! I am!

Happy Birthday, Little Sister

TO MY BABY SISTER

ANGIE
I hope you have a great birthday and that you are waking up to the wonderful smell of hazelnut! May today be filled with music and laughter! I love you!

Well, I guess it's on to baseball for Matter ...

Well, I haven't heard from Matter yet, but according to the

Asheville Citizen-Times

West has lost 77-55. I hate that for them, but the other team had a 6'9" guy who made 5 dunks - and it looks like we were down from the start. The good news, Matthew is only a freshman and has 3 more seasons to make it again! The bad news, well that is pretty obvious. I am still glad he got to experience all of these and I hope he feels the same way. (aside to Matter: cheer up, kiddo, your baseball glove is waiting!)

And They're Off ...

Matter's bus on the way to Winston-Salem about 20 minutes ago!

1.6 More! Go Matter!

Yea! I lost again this week even with a NEW outfit on and after drinking 32 ounces of water an hour before weigh-in.

Tonight is Matter's big game. I am not going to be able to get down there, but his dad is off so he is going. I will post the score as soon as I get it - Keep your fingers crossed and also say a prayer for him, his stomach was hurting last night and I am praying it was soreness and not that nasty bug!