Are We There Yet??

The Answer is Yes!!  Did You Miss Me??  I sure missed all of you.  Our way of travelling on one of these cross-country trips is…unique.  I will not comment on the fact that we did not leave New Jersey until 9:10pm on Saturday.  I had all of my things, with the exception of my purse, the water bottles and myself in the car by 10am.  What did I do during that time? Well fortunately, I can occupy myself with a good book.  Needless to say I was plotting a good murder mystery novel in my head during those 11 hours.  😉

But we got off and didn’t stop driving until 6am Sunday morning.  We stopped at a Cracker Barrel in West Virginia.  Actually they have a really good new breakfast option for me to tell you about and I even took a photo, but I’m still a little too dazed to remember how to load photos on my (Ralph’s ) Netbook, it’s different from my lap top.  We then took an approximately 2 hour “power nap” in the car and we were soon off again.

We finally stopped for the night late Sunday near Ft. Smith Arkansas.  Monday morning we got on the road for one of the most difficult days of travel I can remember.  Ralph had chosen a route we had never taken before.  Remember the old saying, “It looked good on paper?”  This was it.  It looked like a direct route however in Kentucky there are all of these various “highways” all named after people and none of them interconnected.  With many…and I do mean many…stops to ask for directions, some very successful, some not at all we finally got out of Kentucky.  I said we were eaten by Kentucky and although it’s a beautiful state, I was happy to see it end.

We headed into Oklahoma, and yes…We Sang!!  This was a decent route and I don’t remember any hitches except for the horrific accident we saw just as we were getting back on the interstate after stopping for lunch.  We were so close to being a part of it.  If we had left only a few minutes sooner, we might have been.

We passed into the Texas panhandle.  I thought this would be easy…it is after all the short part of Texas.  Seemed to take forever with traffic and road construction.  We crossed into New Mexico and I must say I was apprehensive.  Again, Ralph had chosen a route we had never taken before.  I was crossing my fingers and gritting my teeth.  It turned out to be a great route, very direct and not much traffic…especially in the middle of the night.  Our only hitch was a last-minute change of how we were getting from one route to another.  It was another situation where the highways were not in sync and we had to stop to ask. The change was a wise choice and very worn out, but happy…at least I think we were happy, perhaps we were too tired to tell…we walked into the door of our House on the Hill at 4:15am. 

So begins our Enchanted Days…New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment.  My friends here tell me that brown stuff I see all over the floor after not being here for 10 months is “enchantment.”  Unfortunately, they also tell me that you find it when you’re here every day!  Thank goodness for my Swiffer!

That’s about all I can muster at the moment, Cookies…I’ll get livelier as our stay progresses.  I’m having my coffee…free coffee as a matter of fact.  Someone remind me to tell that story.  It’s a glorious day here already.  We only brought in the essentials last night, so we have to unpack. 

Happy Tuesday…I think!!! 🙂

ETA…Saturday A.M.

Ok, I feel like I’m doing a weekend update here.  As it stands, looks like departure day will be Saturday, early A.M.  I’m hoping for very early.  I’m ready, just have to gather up a few things.  Other travelers in our car…not so sure.

We picked up our rental car today.  Very nice Nissan Altima.  It’s a push button car…how cool! It’s always an adventure to find out all of the ins and outs of a rental car.  Big trunk (lots of stuff to go in) Big back seat (ditto)  Lots of leg room for the front seat travelers.  Only wish it had dual air conditioning controls…that would make life much simpler…I’ll have to survive with a nice denim shirt to keep me warm! 😉

I received unexpected good news at Weight Watchers Friday morning.  I lost a pound and a half!  I was quite excited.  I hope to stay on track and I hope that I’m able to find a meeting in New Mexico. It didn’t work out for me to go last year, hopefully I get to the right place at the right time!  This was very exciting to me…starting off on the right track.  Hope to stay there!

That’s my update for Saturday.  I will be updating on Twitter so please follow me there @BCDCFran and “Like” Broken Cookies Don’t Count on Facebook.

Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!  I’ll be so excited to be On The Road!!

Happy Saturday!  Happy Weekend!  🙂  🙂

D-Day? Maybe…

I spent most of Thursday walking out of the bedroom, into the kitchen to get something and then almost immediately forgetting what I came for!!  It’s been very frustrating even though I’m really trying to be focused.  The lists are helping but…the list doesn’t go to the other room to find something!  It’ll get done.

I’m mostly packed…Ralph…not so much.  I think I said that yesterday.  I’m certain that I’m over packing for clothes but I can’t decide.  I’ve tried weeding things out and then putting things back in the suitcase.  Thank goodness it’s a big one!  Reworked the book bag, I think to my satisfaction.  The computer bag was a little trickier.  I’ve decided to take both my laptop and the netbook.  That reasoning comes from the fact that we now have a “hot spot” to power the netbook and I haven’t had a chance to see how it works with the laptop.  I’m contemplating discontinuing the cable internet.  I want to work with it for a while to see if it will do the trick.  We’ll see.

We pick up the car Friday morning and I’ll be going to Weight Watchers to weigh in.  Ralph has made noises about actually leaving on Friday, hence my lack of certainty as to if we’re leaving on Friday.  I guess I’ll know when he starts the Car!! 😉

I hope to be posting regularly while we’re gone.  While on the road sometimes it can be tricky but I’ll do my best.  Keep in mind that you can follow me on Twitter @BCDCFran, I’ll be updating there several times a day.  Also please take note that Broken Cookies Don’t Count now has a Facebook page!  You can join by clicking on the “Like” button on the blog.  I hope you all do.  That’s where I’ll probably be posting the majority of my photos during the trip.  Photo space is becoming limited on WordPress and I don’t have the time to figure out how to fix that before I leave.

I don’t think it will happen but if you don’t hear from me for a few days…Please Don’t Forget Me!  Besides…You can’t get rid of me that easily!!

Happy Friday!!  Wherever I Am!! 🙂  🙂

Have You Met A Girl Named Thursday?

I thought that this would be a fun way to start the day since it’s THURSDAY!!

I’m having a good time reading this book…

Lost in a good book by Jasper Fforde.  I listened to the first in the series, The Eyre Affair on audio when I was still commuting.  Funny story, I had gotten this and the next book in the series at the library book sale.  I didn’t remember that I had read the first book, wanted to start at the beginning, got the first book from the library.  When I went to list the book in Goodreads, it told me I had already read it!!  Duh!!!  As I’ve been reading Lost In A Good Book, I’m remembering parts of the first book now. 

It’s fun and it’s based on the premise (my interpretation) that books are living things and all kinds of good and bad things can happen in the relationship between humans and the characters in the books.  That’s not a good interpretation, but it’s early and my coffee hasn’t quite taken hold yet! 😉

Regardless of my bad description, I’m really enjoying this.  I started reading it because I wanted something light that I was pretty certain I would enjoy for the actual driving part of our trip.  However, I may be finished before we leave.  I have the next one ready to start.  Oh yes, the reason for the title…the main character is Thursday Next.  Seems I’ve also used the word “next” quote a few times already without intending to!

Speaking of books, I’m already re-thinking what I’ve already packed in my book “suitcase” for the trip.  Some of my finds from the library book sale on Saturday need to come along for the ride, so I’ve got a re-do to do!

Speaking of suitcases, I’m mostly packed.  Ralph…I’m not so sure.  I’ve got all of my regular clothes in my big suitcase, and I’ve started on my overnight bag.  Just need to remember socks…just remembered I forgot socks…Yikes!  Now I just have to pack up the snack bags ( oh yeah, I have to BUY them first!) and the food stuff bags that we’re taking.  I hope this car we get has a Really Big trunk!

Yesterday I had the most beautiful walk you can imagine!  The sky was clear and the weather almost felt like Fall!  Incredible!  Today will be my last walk before vacation.  I have to go to Weight Watchers to weigh in tomorrow (not looking forward to it…) because I won’t be able to go on Saturday!  Don’t like to exercise before weighing in. 

So that’s Thursday…a little disjointed, but then…that’s what you’re used to!  Let’s get the feet on the pavement, One More Time!

Happy Thursday!  Next!!

 

WIAW~Surprise!!

Is it just me or does What I Ate Wednesday seem to be rolling around more than once a week, lately?!  I guess that we all have so much fun at the fabulous food party put together by Jenn at Peas & Crayons, that we just Wish it was more than once a week! As always, be sure to visit over at P & C when you’re finished here to see what all the other cool kids are doing to keep fit and enjoy their food…oh yeah…leave some comments, too!

I have really been enjoying our WIAW theme for July…Fitness!! Yes, I’ll have some!  I’ve been walking what I like to believe is 2 miles (right, Cathy?) almost every day for about 3 weeks.  I’m certainly enjoying it and I’m feeling better for it.  I always heard that exercise helps you sleep…not so for me lately, but I know it’s doing other good things for my body.  I can feel the muscles in my legs firming up.  Amazing that it will happen with such a short period of exercise.  I’m sticking with it!!

So…food…Due to our preparations for our trip, my meals have not been terribly regular or memorable.  Not a good confession but it’s the truth.

Random bowl of wonderful overnight oats from sometime in the last week…is that accurate enough for you?!  It was delicious, that’s all that counts!

Lunches have looked like this a lot…

Rice cakes with sun butter.  Very tasty and filling…quick and easy too and you all know I like quick and easy!!

The surprise in the title refers to a surprise birthday party Ralph and I attended last night.  It was at Lake House Restaurant. It’s an old building that has lived through many incarnations and I was looking forward to going.  Beside that, this is a fun group of people we would be with.

The room was set up very nicely.  To start out, the service was good, two young ladies getting us everything we needed in the way of drinks.  But then it sort of went down hill.  It wasn’t the fault of the servers, I think the kitchen may have had difficulty dealing with our size group.  I think there were about 20 of us, but there should have been about twice that many.  As it was we waited over an hour to be served.  It’s great to have time to socialize, but I can’t understand why a restaurant would put bread plates on the table and not give you any bread. That would have helped.

Almost everyone else got the All You Can Eat Crab special…they’re all big into crabs and crab fests.  Of course, that wasn’t for me.  I had luckily checked the menu on-line and knew what would be available for me.

Started with a salad. Please note “empty” bread plate on the side…

It had a sun-dried tomato vinaigrette and was quite tasty.

This was my entrée…

Spinach ravioli with asparagus, mushrooms and red peppers in a wine sauce. Very tasty and just the right serving size!

The cake which was very tasty!  I’m not sure if it came from the restaurant or if the party planners brought it with them.  I did have a piece and it was good!

All in all in spite of the long wait, we had a lovely evening.  We’ll be seeing most of these folks again in a few weeks when we reconvene in California for the wedding of the birthday girl’s step-daughter.  We’re looking forward to that!

Another What I Ate Wednesday is under my belt.  I’ve got to make sure that for the rest of the week, not too much ELSE gets under my belt!  Be sure to take a peek over at Peas & Crayons, look around, leave some comments…We love you for it!!

Happy What I Ate Wednesday!!

…And The Days Dwindle Down…

Yikes!!  I only have 4 days until we leave and am I ready?!  Put that on your Fat Chance List!  It’s my favorite list…well it must be because that’s the one I use most often!

I should start with something positive…Ok, here we go.  I haven’t mentioned it, but I’m still walking!  I actually added a little distance.  On part of my route the street I’m taking splits and I realized that the road not taken ( cool…a poetry reference!) was steeper and would add about another block of distance because of the way it curves around.  I like adding in the inclines, helps on the old cardio.  My walks really are making me feel good.  I’m going to be disappointed when we go on our trip because I’ll be missing them.  Think I’m going to have to check into whether they let townspeople  use the track at the University.  That would be a good idea.  We have no sidewalks in our area as I’ve mentioned before.  Don’t want to get knocked into a valley!

So on to preparations, how are we doing?  Got most of the laundry done.  My suitcase is still in the basement, it’s just easier if it’s there at the moment.  Once I have most of the clothes in it that I want to take, I’ll bring it upstairs and organize.  I think that will be a Wednesday job.  I can deal with it hanging around upstairs for a few days.  Ralph and I always carry a bag that is our overnight bag…the one we take into the hotel/motel on our nightly stops (if I can get him to make a nightly stop…heavy sigh…)  I have to work on that one to make sure I don’t forget anything…Did I make a list for that bag?! Yikes.  Need to remind Ralph that he needs to do that, too and offer him a bag if he can’t find one (which is likely.)

Ralph had misplaced his wallet somewhere in the house on Sunday.  Monday he found it…then he misplaced it again…He found it again, so at the moment we stand at Ralph-2…Wallet-2.  Hope that’s the final score…heavy sigh…

Also had a fashion show yesterday for things to wear to the wedding we’ll be attending during vacation.  “You’re wearing that…don’t you know it gets cold in San Francisco?”  Yes, I know…I’ve been there and YOU haven’t!!  But both dresses were approved.  I’ve decided that I really don’t like getting dressed up anymore.  Do you think they’d notice if I came in jeans and a golf shirt I got at Goodwill?! …heavy sigh…

We’re going out tonight for the surprise that I spoke about yesterday which I almost spoiled.  Gotta figure out what I’m wearing, and help Ralph find something to wear.  I think this is casual.  Well, if it’s not…it’s Going to be!  I checked the menu and there should be something for the vegetarian to eat.  I should check more often, it’s just that sometimes, I don’t know in advance where we’re going.  Fortunately, when we’re in New Mexico, there are usually lots of vegetarian choices…all those hippies you know… 😉

Lots of things to do, and lots of lists to conquer.  Not much time left until departure, and the pavement is calling my name.  I need to get out there and Walk!!

Happy Tuesday!

 

My New Best Friend

Friends are the best thing in the world.  Throughout my life I’ve been blessed with many wonderful friends.

I have a new best friend and I don’t like her/him at all.  The new friend is 3am.  I can’t decide if 3 (I call her/him that for short) is a male or a female.  I tend to think that 3 is a male because shouldn’t it be true that only a man would be that exasperating and annoying.  A female friend should be more kind, considerate and have my best interest at heart.  Men were put here to drive us a little crazy. But somehow I think that 3 is a female.

3 was only with me once in a while for quite a long time.  Some days coming to visit, some days leaving me to my real friend…6am.  But sadly it seems that 3 has settled in, pulled up a chair and made herself at home.  She nudges me awake and then wants to talk…she wants to remind me of all the things I need to do to get ready for our trip.  Not to talk about how beautiful it will be when we’re in New Mexico or about how happy we’ll be spending some time in our house. 

No, 3 wants to remind me not to forget to write down on my list so I don’t forget the salad bowl and individual bowls, Plus the salad fork and spoon.  Yes, they’ll be perfect to have in the house during out visit, I make salads all the time and I might as well use this wonderful gift I was given quite a few years ago rather than letting it sit in a cupboard.  I know I’ll be glad it’s there, but do we really have to talk about it now?!

3 wants me to ruminate (stew my Mother would have said) about whether Ralph can possibly be ready to leave on time on our projected departure date or will we end up leaving an entire day late because he can’t find some vital pencil or pen or sketch pad (or worse yet his glasses or his driver’s license-2 things that actually have been misplaced and kept us from leaving on a trip on time.)

I’m doing my part.  I got his suitcases out for him.  I’ve told him to give me all laundry that he’d like me to wash before we leave (he actually DID this yesterday!!!) I’ve offered to help him find things that are misplaced (like the special TV antennas he bought Specifically for the trip because we don’t have cable at the house in NM yet and we get exactly 3 stations.)  “Oh, that’s ok, I’ll find them!” No he won’t because he still has 2 pieces of artwork to finish that he insists on doing before we leave. 

Then of course there’s the surprise party we have to go to for which I almost blew the surprise because who would think the honoree’s husband would call and have me on the speaker phone when I ask if it’s a surprise?!?  I think it was ok, but some people hold a grudge,  so I may be on shaky ground.

On top of all this…when we get to New Mexico there’s a 2 hour time difference…I hope not, but I’m afraid when I get there, I’ll be introducing you to my Newer Best Friend…1AM!!! Well, I can always read!  Just have to find a comfortable chair…oh, no…can we fit a Chair in the car!?!?!

Happy Monday!

I Know, I Know…I’m Obsessed

I had been feeling a bit off track with Weight Watchers all week due to the stress and disorder of trying to get ready for our trip.  I got about what I would have expected when I weighed in on Saturday.  I gained 3/4 of a pound.  Not bad but it’s still a bit frustrating.  I know I have to be more mindful and make better choices.  I think part of my trouble this week is the fact that I haven’t been eating 3 meals a day.  Gotta get back on track with that.  I’m not really upset.  I’ll be weighing in early this week on Friday so we’ll see how we do.  I just hope I’m able to find a meeting when we get to New Mexico.  I can’t go for an entire month without a meeting.

I mentioned that there was a library book sale on Saturday.  Initially, I was not going to go.  I didn’t even mention it to Ralph or Ele.  I thought Ralph would say no…To my surprise he said…”Call Ele and we’ll go.”  So I did, and We did!

I felt that I restrained myself well.  I had a really full bag which I weeded out to mearly a sort of full bag.  Only six books, but then there was the one I had gotten at Goodwill just after leaving Weight Watchers.  That’s in my pile here:

I think they’re a nice selection, but now I have to open my already packed book bag for the trip and make some substitutions.  Either that or I’ll have to graduate to an “annex” bag.  I was most excited to find A Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrich.  I recently read his Heading Out To Wonderful and I liked it.   Also glad to find the Ariana Franklin book.  It’s part of her Mistress of the Art of Death series.  I’ve read the first, have the second (packed away somewhere I think??) now I have the third.  Willa Cather’s Death Comes For The Archbishop is set in New Mexico, so that one needs to come on the trip with me.

I do feel good about keeping myself under control.  My usual routine is to pick up whatever I think might interest me, then when I’ve gone through all of the tables, I review the books and see what I’ll keep.  Many times I keep them all!!  This time I put back 4 books so that was pretty good.  I just have to keep myself from sneaking back down there today…they always have more books to put out and they fill in as books sell.  That would be a bad thing…right?! 😉

No actually the bad things are what I allowed myself to eat on Saturday.  Not a good food day, but everything was written in my tracker and Today is a New Day!!  I’ve got to keep myself on track.  And it’s not raining so as soon as I tie on the old sneakers…I will hit the pavement!  Thanks for all of your support with my walking!!

Happy Sunday!! 1-2-3-4–Here I go Out the Door!!

Of Lists and Measuring Tapes

I was disappointed Friday morning when I walked out the back door to take my walk and IT WAS RAINING!!!  I was not happy.  I even waited about 20 minutes, but it was still raining.  I couldn’t keep waiting…I was over the idea.  I’m a little disappointed in myself that I allowed the situation to keep me from walking. I could have waited a while, but I’d lost my enthusiasm.  So on to other projects.

I’ve been trying to go about preparation for this trip in an organized manner.  I have made lists so as not to forget anything.   Not that we’ll be in the jungle or the outback where we’ll be unable to get something that we might have forgotten, but I hate to buy something when I already Have something.  That’s just the way I am.

I’ll even be taking some food from here, jarred and package things.  We’ll be in our house and we’ll be cooking so again, why buy things when you have things.  Of course, we’ll be buying perishables and fruits and veggies, milk and yogurt once we get there, but pasta, tuna, cereal.  I have these things so I’ll be packing them up.

I had decided on one other project that I thought was necessary.  I’m trying to plan what we’ll take with us and what we’ll sell before moving, I had to try to get a handle on what we have that will fit into certain spaces at the house.

I’ve got my lists of what to take on the right.  On the left is a list of various pieces of furniture.  Today, I went around the house measuring things.  It’s a tedious job especially when things are hidden behind other things that are packed up.  I still have a few more to do in the bedroom.  I couldn’t do those because Ralph was still asleep and I was doing this when I would have been walking.  I’m going to complete my list this afternoon.  I’m really glad I got this accomplished, now I’ll have a better idea where I’ll be putting things.  We really are not taking a lot of furniture with us when we go, but I do have a few sentimental pieces that I would find it hard to sell or give away.

By the time you read this, I’ll already know how I did at my Weight Watchers weigh in.  I’m hoping for the best in spite of a little bit of stress eating.  We’ll all know soon.  Lots to do on Saturday to get ready!  We’ll see how far we get! Oh, Lordy…I just found out there’s a library book sale on Saturday!!  I may have to shoot myself!

Happy Saturday!!

 

Seven Days and Counting…Or Is It Eight?!

Yesterday, I talked about my train of thought and I think I am running on my very own track at the moment.  I think I will be until we get ourselves packed and on our way for the trip.  One week from today we pick up our rental car.  Our plan is to leave the next day.  With any luck we will.  Any of you who know Ralph will understand my lack of commitment in that statement.  I plan on doing my best to have us organized and ready. Really…I’m doing my best.  At the moment, my best involves not nagging.  Nagging doesn’t work with Ralph…it makes things worse.  Ok…I’m trying to lead by example…we’ll see how THAT works!

I need to start off by saying that I must be feeling the stress because last night I found myself snacking on things I didn’t need when I wasn’t even hungry.  The good thing is I realized I wasn’t really hungry and they were only Triscuits which are sort of good for me…Fiber…Yum…I stopped myself pretty quickly.  I do need to go back and figure the points.  Not a clue how my Weight Watchers weigh in will turn out this week.  I’ve been in control and tracking my food, but…stress can do this to me.

I lamented yesterday that I thought I was walking 2 miles but my pedometer said less.  My friend Cathy who is a runner told me that I should trust the fact that I’d tracked it with my car first.  She said that pedometers are meant to track steps and aren’t great to track distance.  She’s an expert so I’m back to 2 miles!!  I felt much better after she said that! 🙂

I actually have been working on my packing.  Yesterday, my book bag graduated from a tote bag to a small rolling suitcase.  I thought the suitcase could serve two purposes.  Books and some breakable household things I wanted to take along.  They fit nice and snuggly in there and will be safe.  Also gave me more room for books, and reduced one bag.  I realize I’m taking more books than I need, but I’ve been reading A LOT and since I’ve also stopped reading some I didn’t like, I needed back ups.  Now I just need to decide what I’ll do with the ones I find on the trip.  Oh, yeah, the household things are staying there… I’m good… 😉 I’m really thinking I need that Nook!

I also started packing my actual suitcase.  Well, I guess I can loosely use the word “pack.” The suitcase is in the laundry room in the basement.  I’m sorting through clothes (because so often my clothes end up clean and stacked down there…I’m a slug…I know…) They’re not really in there as packed yet, but I’m sorting so that I know what I want to take.  I’ll pack them neatly when I get the suitcase upstairs.  That may not make any sense to anyone else, but it’s working for me!

I need to start working on some ideas for snacks and meals for the road.  We’re trying to do this trip on a budget, cutting corners where we can so I need to think of some things to take to eat.  I’m leaning toward peanut butter and jelly sandwiches which we can make at our rest stops.  I also used hummus when I drove to Florida with Gail in January.  That would work for me, but not for Ralph.  We’ll see what I come up with.  I have some good ideas for snacks too.  I’ve got to get some things at the grocery store.  We’ll see how this all works.  Of course I can’t forget the Twizzlers…always the Twizzlers…they’re our traditional road trip snack.  Dollar Tree…here I come!

Lots more to do today.  I have a plan and I have LISTS!!  But for now it’s almost time to hit the pavement for my walk.  It sounds like it’s raining, but when I look out I don’t see anything.  I hope the weather holds…I’d hate to miss my walk…

Happy Friday!!