Sunday, June 20, 2010

Oh What do you do in the Summer Time When all the World is HOT???

Tomorrow we are off on the next leg of our tour of these great 50 states. When we are done, we will have been to 40.

We are flying into Omaha, Nebraska tomorrow night. My Ex-Brother in Law and nephew Colton will pick us up and will be with us on our journey. I was going to book a room on Friday night, but hesitated. Unfortunately, the $70 room on Friday night became a very difficult to get $135 room by Saturday. **Note to self** Don't forget that Monday nights in Omaha, Nebraska are very popular for hotel stays in June. **SIGH**

We will visit Winter Quarters for a short while, because the last time I was there I didn't see as much of it as I wanted to. Then we will be driving to Fargo, North Dakota. Why? Well, we haven't been to North Dakota yet, and Fargo's as good a place as any place in ND. With campgrounds like the "Great Grassy Plains" campgrounds, I just couldn't get too excited about camping. So maybe we'll see Toy Story III while in Fargo and we'll always remember we saw it in North Dakota.

From there we will be off on the REAL adventure...into Wisconsin and Michigan, camping around the Great Lakes. Not sure quite where, but we'll figure it out as we go. We'll go up and around Lake Michigan (the middle one) and down through Chicago. Maybe we'll stop and get a hotdog...see a museum and say we've done it.

Hopefully we'll have time to see Nauvoo again and spend a day or two in Moulton, IA...where Gary (bro-in-law) lives.

I am excited for the trip, however my TO-DO list is long, and my time is running short. I guess I'll go to bed and get started early tomorrow.

....Is that what you do???

Wednesday, February 17, 2010

A Goal Not Written is Only a Wish!!!


OK...get back up on your stool...Yes, I am posting a blog. By now, there are probably no followers, but I'm going to post anyway.

Why??? Because I should be studying...and because it is the first day of LENT!!! ...and because I am setting my goal...

For years, since my college days at BYU, I have given up sugar for Lent. Well, I have tried to give up sugar for lent. More years than not, I have been sorrowfully unsuccessful...and if the truth be known, I probably ate more sugar during that time than I do when not giving up sugar. But we'll talk about my compulsive eating binges some other time.

This year I am really going to do it though. I have read online about how it is to be properly done...did you know that Sundays are not included in the Lenten Fast? Yeah...well, I'm not going for it. 46 straight days of no sugar...but that's not all...I'm doing more this year. (As if sugar isn't hard enough!)

Here is my list of foods that are off limits for the next 46 days...

All foods that contain in the first 3 ingredients: sugar or any substitutes including artificial sweeteners, honey, corn syrup, fruit juice, and my personal favorite...dehydrated cane juice (as if). I will allow myself one packet of Stevia per day or 1 TBL of Sugar Free (Fruit Only) Fruit Spread....and I can chew sugar-free gum or eat a mint. Also forbidden: white flour or any items which contain white flour in the first 3 ingredients. This will eliminate virtually all desserts including SF puddings, jellos, cookies, cakes, hot cocoa etc.

My goal is to learn to enjoy eating healthier foods...not to figure out how to eat the same foods but with chemicals instead of calories...and to help me choose complex carbohydrates over simple sugars to get my energy.

Foods I am going to eat more of: Veggies, fruits, whole grain foods, beans, brown rice, and of course lean meats.Last night was my FAT TUESDAY before embarking on my new healthier life. I ate way too much and was painfully full for hours. This only served to reinforce how miserable it is to over-indulge in that stuff. I am excited to get started today...and as my tummy is still recovering from yesterday...it is on board with me at the moment.

Also on board with me...at least sugar-wise is Paige and my daughter Sarah (little does Jacob know that he'll be participating by default).

So here's to a longer, healthier, happier life!!