Quick Trip to California

So, April 25th was my mother-in-law's birthday, my husband and I flew to CA for the weekend, well Saturday night, to Tuesday AM. We met his brother there from DC and we had a great weekend. My in-law's live in Santa Rosa, CA...right in the heart of wine country. Sadly my husband is on a alcohol free journey until June 15th...due to some bloodwork. Anyway, I felt guilty that we chose Chateau Montelana to visit...for those of you unfamiliar, this is the winery in Napa Valley that put CA on the map of the world for wines. Have you seen Bottle Shock? if you haven't it is a Hollywood version of the events...very good! Anyway. I was pleased with the wine I tasted there and for the first time in my life considered paying more than 20 for a bottle of wine...145 to be exact, it was THAT good! We also paid a visit to the original CIA for a cooking demonstration...the menu was gluten free and since this is the life my husband and I now lead...well, it was appropriate. So interesting and YUMMY! I can't wait to try it at home. We ate some REALLY good food. If you are ever in the Oakland, Ca area...try http://www.soizicbistro.com/

it is soooo yummy! And we ate at Bouchon Bistro http://www.bouchonbistro.com/ while in wine country...also good. And, spring had definitely sprung! It was soooo beautiful and green. It was a shock to come back to Spokane to its 40 degrees and rain and sleet...UGH! Happy Birthday Ellen, we had a great time!!

STRUGGLING WITH WEIGHT LOSS

Okay...on April 14th I hit a 5% goal of 183 lbs...I left the meeting and ate two slices of pizza from Pizza Pipeline and a Pepsi. Then I thought my week would be okay. Well, my time of the month came and that makes me a little nuts when it comes to food. But, I have made it through weeks without incredible weight gain...so I kept thinking I will snap out of it. The week went from bad to worse...I couldn't get myself out of the hole (edible book contest, four cream cheese brownies...etc) and when I weighed in Tuesday April 21 I had gained 2 lbs. So, as I left the meeting I told myself, get back on track, don't eat crap, and it can come off this week. Well, I proceeded to have a whopper Jr with cheese and a blizzard from DQ (my first one of the season) and it was 75 degrees out, perfect ice cream weather. So...I get through Tuesday okay...but yesterday, I was doing sooooo good. Yes, I had a Reese cup...but all in all my food choices had been pretty good. But, in Economics class last night there was a discussion about pizza...and before i knew it I was ordering a small cheese pizza, the clerk gave me a free Pepsi and I was eating it...the WHOLE thing. UGH! Do you think I felt sick? Well, no I didn't...which was HORRIBLE. usually when I make poor food choices I get that sick feeling and I think I don't want to do this again! Well, I didn't get it. Well not right away anyway. This morning I felt a little off. But...I need to stop this madness! What is wrong with me? Normally I make bad decisions for a day and then I get back on track...well, I am struggling. I want to eat more. This totally sucks because I have 10 pounds to lose before I have hit goal...and I have struggled with this for a LONG time. My first 50 lbs came off in a year. It has taken me nearly a year to take off 14 lbs...and 4 of those lbs keep coming and going! UGH!! I need someone to smack me or something. Anyway, just wanted to share! Hopefully I can re coop and get back on track! I am walking BLOOMSDAY in a couple weeks...that should smack it out of me!

Getting Sick...

So, just a few days ago while surrounded by co-workers who were blowing their noses and coughing I thought to myself...wow, I haven't been sick in awhile...how lucky am I? And then, not more than 24 hours later, it hit me...it was just a small ache in the back of my throat on Thursday...by Friday I was feeling exhausted and run down, and began to breathe with difficulty...and now, Sunday night...my right side of my head is clogged...my ear hurts, I can't breathe and I can't get that nasty metallic, dry, gross taste out of my mouth whatever I do. I think it is moving...the sore throat isn't as bad...I am taking night time theraflu...which is SOOOO gross, and yet, what a night of sleep. My husband claims that two nights ago my cat was practically dancing on me and still I slept! Oh well, I imagine this is what I get for being so cocky about my health! To make matters worse...It was SOOOOO gorgeous outside yesterday and today...and I couldn't even get myself out to enjoy it. The spirit was willing but my body was screaming, rest you fool! And...as luck would have it, it is spring...couldn't I have gotten sick last weekend...or even better a month ago? Anyway, just a word of warning about thinking how good you have it...sometimes it can come back and bite you in the...well you know!

Orchids...

Okay, I have to share one other excitement I discovered about a couple weeks ago. I was cleaning my apartment when something pink caught the corner of my eye and I screamed...my husband came running. What is it? I stammer, I point...look at that as I pointed to my orchid. It has been sitting in the same spot since my husband bought it for me almost a year ago. There are not one but TWO flowers! Oh yeah he says...I have been meaning to tell you about that. I couldn't be more thrilled. I have owned more than one orchid. I buy it at the store...I bring it home. The advice I have received includes, put it somewhere and don't move it...water it, but don't over water it...they are picky...be careful with it. So when the blooms fell off...I was resigned to the fact that I probably wouldn't see blooms again. And yet...HERE THEY ARE!! I should water it...but the blooms are so pretty I don't want to disturb it.

April 2nd...SNOW!

Okay, so I didn't get tons...but definitely more than a frosting. After all of this grey and rainy sleeting weather this morning I woke up to a pleasant surprise. Okay, maybe I should start from the beginning. I got out of class last night about 9:50pm. It was snowing then...in fact when I went to class about 5:30pm it was snowing...but nothing was really sticking. I got home about 10:30pm last night and it was sticking to the grass...a frosting only! So...this morning my husband says, look outside! I am of course groggy and out of it, but I look. SNOW...on April 2nd! My husband said it was an April Fool's Joke...once it was DAYLIGHT and I could actually look outside...I am posting a couple pictures of what I saw! HOW EXCITING. I know many of my contacts in Liberty Lake aren't going to be happy with this. But I have been hoping for just a little more than a frosting...now, it is supposed to be 50 degrees this weekend...so of course it will disappear quickly, but I am happy about it now. And...as it turns out, my cat is outside playing in it as I type! She likes it!