Nobody Said it Was Easy, Nobody Said it Would be so Hard

Why didn't anyone tell me it would be this difficult to cook without a stove, oven, kitchen sink, or countertop? When we began the remodel I had all these grand schemes of how I was going to utilize the grill, George Foreman, fondue, and crock pot to make healthy meals each night. What I didn't realize was that the grill and George Foreman get old after the eleventeenth time. The fondue and crockpot require preparation and without a countertop I am forced to cut veggies and meat on my coffee table. (Not too comfortable in case you were wondering.) And to top it all off everything becomes covered in dust during a remodel which forces me to wash everything before and after I use it. There are so many other things I would prefer to do instead of leaning over the bathtub washing dishes twice a night.

So far we haven't resorted to ordering in pizza but we do eat out 3-4 times each week. Much more then our normal once a week. And when I do "cook" at home I usually resort to convenience semi-homemade types of products. Uncle Ben's microwaveable rice and I have become quick friends even though one pouch has over a 1,000 grams of sodium per serving. I try to be low-carb and low-fat but I am ALWAYS low sodium when I cook so this high salt cooking has left me feeling like a salt lick most days.

I've decided to go on a shake fast for the next week or so. This lack of anything healthy to cook has actually made this a really easy decision and I am sure will make it really easy to stick on the fast. I went on a long term fast before my wedding which knocked the weight off me like gang busters. This fast will be much shorter but hopefully gets me on the path towards cute summer shorts and skirts.

Le cours de français

Mistake: While talking with the lady behind me who is also taking the class for fun and plans to travel to Nice, loudly exclaim "this class is so fun and so EASY! I actually look forward to coming to class each time!". This will result in the rest of the class who is obviously not finding French to be fun or easy to turn around and glare at you.

My how much changes in just a week or so. I've been taking 2 weeks of French and already the cobwebs have begun evacuating my brain and making room for a new language. I have a job in which I am thinking/evaluating/analyzing 85% of the day yet the learning portion of my brain had obviously been ill used since college because on my first day of class the terms and phrases which were very basic were bouncing off me and falling on the floor. No matter how hard I listened I couldn't absorb any of what the teacher was trying to teach us and I began to worry that I was in over my head with this class. Since then I've studiously reviewed material and completed homework and have found that my brain has re-opened for business and is easily accepting all of the French vocabulary. I honestly do look forward to each class and the possibilities of what I will learn that day. I've always been naturally good in school (graduated from college with honors even though I spent half the time inebriated and in my pajamas) but have lacked the motivation to actually apply myself and study. I think I am finally at the age (and maturity) where the idea of cracking open a school book and reading isn't repulsive. If only I had this motivation back in college, imagine what I could have done with myself.

I'm sure French will become more complex as the semester passes but I am incredibly proud of myself for sticking with something that was out of my norm. I'm also really pleased that my brain is working again. Continuation of my studies for fun will definitely be on my calendar in the future. It was quite scary to see how little information I was able to retain on that first day. I can only imagine what my brain would have been like had I waited 10 years before I took another college course.

In slightly french related news, tomorrow night's dinner is Coq au Vin (pronounced coke ohe vah). YUM!


And in other slightly less french related news, I was re-watching the series finale of Sex and the City where Carrie goes to France. Holy cow, I had forgotten how hot Mr Big was. I think he made my loins flutter. YUM YUM!

Exclamation!

* In 30 days (exactly!) I will be getting married. Holy Cow! Where has the time gone??? I'm dreading the passage of these last 30 days. I love the engagement stage and if I had my way I would be planning my wedding for several more months. Seriously, for me the most important thing was that Dave asked me to marry him. That to me proved that Dave was committed to me and this relationship. The legally wed bit (to me) is just added poof. We already live together, we already have sex, and we already share our lives. I could be wrong but I just don't feel much will change after June 15th.

* According to my to-do list I really don't have much left to do for the wedding but in my head it feels like I am no way near ready for the big day. My wedding dress still hasn't arrived and I'm a bit concerned that since I've lost 35 pounds, the dress wont be able to be taken in enough before the wedding. In other attire related news, today one of my bridesmaids and I plan on going to the bridal store to pick up the bridesmaids dresses. I'm so excited!

* Dave's parents, cousins, and their kids will be visiting this weekend as they drive across the State to spend a week in Disneyland. Our house is still no where near being presentable but at this point I really could care less. So what if one wall is only painted 95%? Who cares about the fact that we don't have baseboards in the living room? Window treatments? Pffffttttt!!!! Actually I do care but after how hard we've worked the past 2 months I've come to realize that this house will be a work in progress for several more months.

* Since I've been dieting, I've avoided cooking and entertaining (too much temptation). Dave has spent the past few months dining on frozen pizzas and Del Taco. Since Dave's family will be coming for a visit I decided to break out our wedding presents and make a respectable meal. On the menu: Stone Brew beer, Heather's Mist wine, green salad with strawberry vineragette, sourdough with baked brie bread, steak, grilled sausage, grilled asparagus, corn, and garlic mashed potatoes.

* I love days when I feel cute. Today I'm wearing my X2 Express Jeans (size itty bitty) that are practically brand new. I bought them several years ago but haven't been able to wear them because of my excess poundage. Now they fit perfectly (not too tight and not too loose).

* Pilates continues to kick my arse. I've so enjoyed these last few weeks and my new work out routine.

* I found this online tool which helps you figure out which clothes fit your body shape best. Quite useful. I've often tried to wear boxy shirts and jackets and been disappointed that they make me look like Frankenstein's younger sister. According to the guidelines of Shape S, boxy tops don't fit my small framed shoulders well. Makes sense (but still doesn't explain why I didn't figure that out on my own).

* Making today even more perfect is that June Gloom has arrived to the coast! Love of June Gloom is the easiest way to detect those of us who are not native coastal dwellers. San Diego regulations state that if you are a Native then you must detest the overcast coastal fog and cool temps. By the way in other San Diego news, we were recently named the most overpriced housing market in the US!