What's Next?

Mission Get Fit

January 15, I was told by my work physician that I was unfit.  Unfit for what, I ask.  Unfit for release into general population?  Unfit to practice?  Unfit to parent?  I would have believed all of those before the truth.... physically unfit.

Let it be known that I feel that a Dutch doctor, with his six feet of ectomorphic physique, has no idea how well I fight my non-ectomorphic Romanian genetics.  Seriously, if he came to one of my family reunions, he would give me a gold star.

Despite my excuses and a fair amount of pouting, a plan had to be made.  The plan revolves around accountability once again.  This time I am trying it with enthusiasm.  Ra-ra.

I have now been using the website livestrong.com for a couple of months to enter foods, exercise, water intake, weight, goals, etc. for the intent purpose of losing some (or all or more) of the weight I have gained since moving to Europe.  Way too easy to screw up.  Love it.

Helpfully, I am on yet another Russian mission where the food is, well, not that difficult to turn down (excepting the pouting and disapproving looks from the Russian kitchen staff).  I also have easy access to an in-house gym (small gathering of non-commercial fitness equipment) and the wine really sucks so it has been easy to cut that out as well.  When I first started this great, life-altering adventure, I was concerned as to whether I would be able to keep up these positive changes once I returned to the world of cheese and good wine.  The answer to that concern?  I could show you the weight “loss” graph but I’m just not willing to share that much at this point; it’s not pretty but I held the newly cast away kilograms at bay though not many more joined them.  Baby steps.  I've come to terms.

Speaking of wine, when I fired up the livestrong.com account I had a huge shock:  there was one recorded day, before my incarceration, that my red wine consumption constituted 50% of my caloric intake for the day.  Soooo not cool.  Please at least act surprised.

My professional dieting recommendation (because I can do that now); if you are going to drink, it is best not to eat anything.  Everything balances out better that way, trust me.

Also, speaking of wine, I do occasionally take these opportunities, while away from home, to prove to myself (and my father) that I am not an alcoholic and, I am happy to report, I am not!  Last mission I was without wine or any other alcohol for 23 days; long past the Delirium Tremors window.  Good to go.  I did, however, have a problem weaning myself off the green tea and carbonated water but that’s another issue.

Back from my digression....

I am all about the gadgets and accountability.  After a kick-ass start at the Russian sponsored Fat Farm / Rehab Clinic (also known as my work assigned accommodation), it was important to find a way to keep on the positive side of the graph once I was home.  Purchases:  one digital scale, one heart monitor, one supercool gadget that made my heart monitor talk to my iPhone and one million iPhone apps that would record, graph, play inspirational music of my choosing and email to me everything I did to gain or burn a calorie.  I am truly a puppet.

But, I am a successful puppet thus far.  How do I measure success, you ask?

Most days, the scale is no longer the enemy.  Knowing that the third floor window is dangerously close, the scale still quivers some days before giving a readout.  Those days are becoming fewer.

I have given away a few items of clothing that are too big.  Well, three to be exact but I am also fitting into things that I have had to brush dust off of.

I crave the morning work-out.  That is seriously surreal.  The trick is to make sure that the appropriate attire is closely standing by.  I am a half hour into my morning jaunt before I realize that I am out of bed; perfect.  If I had to look for a shirt, I would stay under the cozy duvet.  Knowing my limitations is key.

Hail to the cheerleaders!  I am so fortunate to have the support of my Hubbybaby and the rest of my family.  The Amazing Man tells me that I look great, sexy and all that (though, suspiciously, he didn’t tell me that I wasn’t all those things in December)... but, now I’m more so.  Yay!  Liam-the-sixteen-year-old boy has congratulated me on my 5 km time being a mere four times what his is and, my daughter quickly and quietly whisked away my slightly over-sized clothes before I could change my mind.

What are the numbers?  Better than yesterday.

Fooled Again!

Asking for a nice dry red wine in Russia is like asking for a virgin in a brothel.  They will always try to sell you one that they claim is really close but, you both know in your hearts that it's just not the truth.

The latest sales pitch:

The grapes are grown on the same latitude as the Bordeaux region in France, see:

Also, the name of the wine is Cru Lermont a 2006 Cabernet Sauvignon from Fanagoria!  It wasn't one of the usual Moldavian offerings that taste like flat Fanta Grape soda.  It was also over double the price of any other wine in the shop.  It had to be good not too bad.

After the first taste, I almost dumped it out.  However, desperate times call for desperate measures (remember the volcano delays?) so the Fanagorian Wine has now been mixed with Cherry juice and mineral water.  If I close my eyes, stand by the window and feel the cool evening breeze while taking very small sips, I can almost imagine that I am drinking a Sangria on the beach by the North Sea.  Almost...

My advice for those visiting Russia and wanting a nice glass of red wine:  Drink Vodka.

Remembering Happier Times Part 2

 

Morning:

 

Afternoon:

Break's Over!

I actually had no idea that I had even taken one but, according to the last delayed entry dated August 10, I've been a bit of a slacker.

Since I have such an exiguous memory, I'm going to start my recollection of significant events from now and work my way backwards.

A couple of hours ago, I placed a bottle of my fabulous Rosé Beer in the freezer and, naturally, saw an eagle or something and completely forgot about it.  When I did finally remember, I ran through the house, and stepped on the plug to the vacuum cleaner (which really hurt), because losing that extra three seconds that it would have taken me to walk like an adult could have made all the difference.  The freezer apparently still works.

I gingerly carried it over to the sink and slowly opened it, turning my head slightly in case it exploded; must save my eyes.  We all know what happens when frozen beer meets air.  Since this is not just any beer but my fabulous Rosé Beer, well, let's just say, had their been witnesses to my ability to salvage, I would have had dates for a month.  I'm not sure what that means, Dad, it's just something Laurie said.

Since trying Rosé Beer from Denmark for the first time in Den Hague at an Irish Pub with this amazing man from South Africa, I have been trying to find it here in Canada.  Look at me and my International Relations.

Our local liquor stores are so small that you can see the entire inventory from the front door.  It was a short and disappointing search.  But, one of the Mom's from Liam's baseball team happens to work at a liquor store so, of course, she had to know about their obvious inadequacies or, if she didn't, she does now, poor woman.  I pouted a little and moved on.

A couple of weeks later, I received a phone call from the manager of the liquor store.  As he was identifying himself, I was quickly trying to think of how I was going to bail The Girl out of this one because, why else would a liquor store manager be phoning me except to tell me that he had caught my under-aged daughter buying Baby Duck for all of her friends.

Well, this was my lucky day, he could order the fabulous Rosé Beer in for me but, it could take a while and I would have to buy a full box of 24 and it would cost me $2.75 per bottle.

I am certain that it's easy to see why not a drop can be wasted.

Tomorrow, home renos, on-going, and what I have learned about how much tiling sucks and how my fabulous Rosé Beer makes my personal hell a little more bearable.

I Just Got Back from a Little Trip

Did you know that it takes three years to complete an education that allows you to run one of these things?  It's a type of engineering degree.  If you close your eyes while riding your super-Euro pedal bike along side of them, they sound just like sailboats with their sails flapping and their works creaking.  I didn't actually close my eyes because I likely would have died and I totally forgot about that whole traveller's insurance thing but, that's what they sounded like.

 

And, did I mention the beer??  I discovered Rose Beer.  It's really hard to explain the taste without sounding like a total girl; it lacks that whole belchy beer taste and, instead, has the aftertaste of a berry tea (a man's description).  I don't think we can get it here in the Kootenays but it gives me a new mission.

Speaking of men (I know, you're finally paying attention), I met some of the most amazing people.  Unfortunately, some of them were my co-applicants for my next great job.  One in particular is an amazing specimen named Werner (pronounced Vanner; this took me two days to get) who hails from the South African military where he has experienced all of the things that I have only learned about in theory.  He is brilliant, handsome and was so much fun to explore Den Haag with.  He was the one who knew to ask the hotel concierge how to get back to the hotel even before we left.  As I said, brilliant.

Nothing can make me appreciate Canada like talking to people from other areas of the world who have been shot at work and have never seen snow.

Yet Another Great Canadian Wine

I was reading Nadia's blog; a great site about creativity and grand ambitions.  She had taken a picture to show how she personalized her hotel room while away at a convention; something that I do as well, but never thought to photograph.  So I did, and here it is:

This picture has been cropped to protect the identities of the not-so-innocent.

The wine is a Hester Creek 2004 Cabernet/Merlot.  The combination of Cabernet Franc and Merlot grapes claims to taste of cherry blackberries, toffee, pepper.  My thoughts; very good, no pucker-bite, doesn't taste like smoke or wood and goes great with dark chocolate.  It was $18 where I purchased it but I noticed on the Hester Creek website that the MSRP is $16.

The chocolate is Green & Black's organic dark chocolate with 70% cocoa.  A friend who sampled it said that it was like eating oysters on steroids (hey....that may have been a pick-up line; I have to make a phone call).

Great Canadian Wine

I really like wine.

I am not a connoisseur; only because I would never spit out wine after tasting it.  Disrespectful, I say.  I did, however, feel the need to opine while enjoying a glass of somewhat local British Columbia wine this evening.

The picture could be a little blurry because I failed to put on my glasses when I took it.  Nothing to do with the actual consumption of the above pictured wine.  Nothing at all.

Naked Grape:  lightish for a red, fruity, unoaked and goes great with everything and great by itself and travels well and it has the word "naked" on it.  Yet another bonus; this little beauty can be yours for under $11.

On Becoming a Foodie

For years I have struggled with the reality of fast food, whether it be a drive-thru or convenience foods at home.  With shift work, busy kids and limited grocery store hours, I have generally sought the easiest solution which is to grab something fast and keep moving.  Many of these choices are expensive, lacking in nutrition and they fail to satisfy our palate or our social needs.

Taryn-the-16-year-old girl has also been vegetarian for over two years, just to complicate things a little more.

Our family's combined goals have been to eat healthy, support local economy, have more time together, avoid chemicals and steroids and expand our tastes.  Humble aspirations, I know.

With the current trends towards "slow food", healthier eating habits and ethical awareness, there are many resources to draw upon to get started or make a few tweaks in our current practices.

Locally, we have a great service called The Endless Harvest.  It is a company that delivers organic produce to my door once per week and, they purchase locally whenever possible.  I have started with their "Small Bin"; a mixture of vegetables and fruits for $30 per week.  Yesterday's delivery had spinach, cilantro, mustard greens, a butternut squash, kale, potatoes, an onion, an avocado, 3 gala apples, 3 golden apples, celery and a bunch of red flame grapes.  Not a small bin at all.  Every week I can go to their website and see what is to be delivered and adjust it to my needs whether it be small substitutions or going through their extensive grocery list to add on meats, bakery goods etc.... all chemical free.

I get eggs from local hobby farmers.  The chickens are quite content running about the yard and laying eggs at their leisure.  Taste great and come in some interesting colours.

I read a great blog called The Skinny Gourmet written by a foodie whose mantra is quality not quantity.  Seems so simple but she expands on the concept with great recipes and explanations on how to be more satisfied with a meal by using good, flavourful ingredients and enjoying the preparation and esthetics of the food.  In addition to this, I try to involve the children in the whole process rather than just the consumption phase.  I have them look up recipes that use some of the less familiar vegetables that we receive and do some prep, stirring and anything else that does not include sharp knives (think confined space and hormones).

We have had great conversations about the state of the world, friends, travel, waxing back hair, deterring stalkers, fashion, etc.  The usual.

Also, there is a book called The 100 Mile Diet which diarizes the authors' challenges to eat only food that has been acquired within 100 miles of their home.  Fabulous idea.  As an aside to this achievement, it also conforms with the practice of our ancestors to consume according to availability both geographically and seasonally.

Overall, some great ideas.  So as not to scare my friends and family:  Moderation is my way.  I will not be joining the ranks of the local hunters any time soon.

New Camera is Still a Novelty

This is a test of the teenage vegetable detection system.

1. Spinach 
2. Zucchini 
3. Chicken 
4. Peanut Sauce 
5. Hot Peppers 
6. Carrots 
7. Green/Red/Yellow Peppers 
8. Tomatoes

If you put it all between a crust and cheese, is it still a pizza?

Yes, it is.