Irritating

Lately, television commercials around here are nothing put political ads for these two different idiots that are running for Congress. Scott Murphy and Jim Tedisco. I am not going to vote for either of them for one big reason, I'm not registered to vote in this state. I would say though, if I did have to vote, Scott Murphy would get my vote. Not because he is a Democrat or because I believe in his ideals or whatever. The reason I would vote for him is because of one simple reason. I have gotten at least 4 different automated phone calls at our house from Jim Tedisco or someone representing him. They are all recorded automated calls so it's not like a live person calling, but it is irritating all in the same. I'm so over tired of all the attack ads of one on the other. This is why I hate politics. Thankfully, the election is today and all this garbage will be over. Although as I say that, the phone is ringing with yet another automated recording (2nd one of those) saying, "Our records indicate that you haven't voted today." Yeah, sorry johnny computer....not registered here. STOP CALLING!!!

Small World

Last night my friends Marisa, Brian, and I went to Bentley's (a tavern/restaurant) for a few drinks. I drive past it every day on my way to the gym and I always say that I want to go there sometime so getting the chance to go last night was great. It looks like it could be kinda questionable from the outside but when you walk inside it has a really nice feel to it. Lots of dark wood and I think some stone and the crowd of people was a little older than we'd expected, but fun none the less.

When Marisa and I got there and were walking up to go in, there was a man in woman in front of us. When the man turned to hold the door for us, Marisa and I both said, "Oh my God!" It was our old boss Randy that we worked for at Bed Bath and Beyond. He looked at Marisa and said hi and then looked at me and said, "How in the hell is this possible? What are you doing here?!" We were shocked to even run into him because he doesn't live in Saratoga and just to see him at this bar was funny. It's a small world when you really get down to it and you never know who you'll see or where you'll see them!

Happy Birthday

Today is John's 28th birthday and it was a fantastic day! It was 60 and sunny, birds were chirping, I got to open the windows in the house and drive with them down in the car. I did the normal routine this morning of tanning and working out and when I got home, I had a message on the machine from the furniture store. Our furniture came in!! I was so excited but I can't call back to set up the delivery until John wakes up to see when he thinks we should have it delivered.

I baked John a yellow cake with chocolate frosting which should turn out fantastic. I love cake so for it to be anything other than fantastic would be crazy. I also am making chicken enchiladas for dinner per John's request. He loves them. It's the recipe my aunt Susan gave me (thanks Aunt Sue Sue) and everyone always loves them. That was one of my signature dishes with my Vegas friends. They always asked me to make them so they could come over for dinner. Marisa has a different recipe for chicken enchiladas that she made for me a few weeks ago that is also really good. The filling and taste is different than the ones I make, but equally delicious!

Hopefully John will like his gifts. I buy the man clothes for just about every occasion but it's the only thing I know how to buy! It's not very creative of me, but oh well. He doesn't have half the clothes I have (although sometime this week I am going to be getting rid of a LOT) but all his outfits look nice. So, when he wakes up we'll have dinner and cake and then he'll be off to work around 10:30, and it'll be off to bed for me!

Don't Mess With Mashed Potatoes

Tuesday night, or maybe it was Monday, I don't remember, I decided to make ham steaks for dinner because I was really tired of eating chicken and turkey. So I figured since we were having ham steaks that I would call John and ask him to stop and pick up a box of maccaroni and cheese to go with it. When he got home, he tells me he didn't stop but that he'd change and go back out to get some. I told him it was ok and that he didn't have to and that we could either just have rice and veggies or I could make mashed potatoes instead of rice. He wrinkled his nose at both and said he wanted to try mashed cauliflower. I was a little irritated because he REFUSES to eat cauliflower so I just couldn't see him eating mashed cauliflower in the hopes that it'd taste like mashed potatoes.

So me being the nice wife I am, or just to prove my point that he wouldn't like them, I made them. Mind you, I LIKE cauliflower...but these...were NASTY!!! The consistacy was awful and even though it tasted like cauliflower, ugh, I shutter just thinking about it. As much as I didn't like them, I did eat them all and watched as John forced himself to eat as much as he could on his plate. He tried to tell me that maybe if we found another recipe they would taste better, but I told him I would not be making them, or attempting to anymore!

Row, Row, Row Your Boat

For the past week, every day when I go to the gym, I have my eye on the rowing machine. I've always wanted to use it but no one has ever showed me how. So today, I decided I would ask and give it a go. It's definitely a different type of work out, but I liked it. I wasn't working up a hardcore sweat like I expected to. Then again, I didn't have the pull set on a crazy hard setting either (which I have no intention or really doing until I get used to it). So, I decided that rowing will become part of my everyday gym routine.

Goodbye....

To my high blood pressure! Back in September when I went for my yearly check up, my doctor told me that my blood pressure was a little bit high. I was really bothered by this because I'd never had high blood pressure before, it's always been low. After that, I became obsessed with always wanting to check it whenever we'd go to the store. I know that you can't always rely on those machines that they have at Walgreen's or wherever, but I just had to know. Well, every time I went, it was high. At one point, it was 198/88 when I got my ear infection and I flipped out. All I kept thinking is that I was going to have to take medication...which is not something I'm a fan of.

Once I moved up here and got into a routine of working out again, I was hoping that it would pay off. Of course, the scale never seems to move other than going up one day and then down the next, so I just stopped weighing myself, but that's besides the point. When John and I went to Walmart yesterday morning to get our groceries, I told him the first thing I wanted to do was to check my blood pressure. The week before when I took it it was 138/82 which I was happy with. But this week, 125/76!! I was so happy to see that it's finally normal again. I know that a lot of it has to do with the fact that I'm back to working out regularly and we only eat out maybe once a week and I log my food to keep tabs on calories and sodium, but sometimes I think another big factor is that I'm not stressed out here. I was BEYOND miserable living in Washington even though I had some friends and worked out, but I just wasn't happy. John's schedule was ridiculous and I just felt pissed off all the time. I don't feel like that here hardly ever. Sure there are times, but they are far and few between. I love living up here. The weather is so much better; I see the sun almost every day (even if it's cold). And that is really important to me.

With all that being said, I'm happy to know I don't need to be medicated for hypertension and I hopefully never will. Like I said, I'm not one who likes to take medicine for anything! I know sometimes it's inevitable due to heredity, but I'm happy to know for now that I'm in the clear again.

Who Knew....

That chocolate chip cookies that had chick peas in them could taste so good?



I had seen Jessica Seinfeld on Oprah sometime last year and I had said then that I wanted to buy her cookbook. Not for my someday children, but for my husband who is not a veggie lover. So today, I made the chocolate chip cookies that had chick peas in them and they are surprisingly delicious! I was nervous because the butter it had me use (that I'm still not sure if it was the right kinda) smelled AWFUL. Thankfully they turned out super yummy!!

On another note, I had pretty productive day today. I went to the tanning bed which felt AWESOME and will feel even more awesome in a few weeks when my skin in no longer pasty white. Yes, I'm aware how bad the tanning bed is for you, but I just can't help it. I like it, and it makes me feel good. After my whopping 5 minutes in the bed, I made my way to the Ymca...by myself! For those of you that don't know this about me, I am always afraid to go somewhere new by myself (i.e. the gym). The first time I go somewhere like that I've never been, I tend to like to go with someone. However, I knew that I'd be waiting a long time for that, so I decided to just suck it up and go. Mind you, I went to the Malta branch instead of the brand new Saratoga branch because I'm intimidated by the "pretty" people who work out at the Saratoga branch. Don't ask me why I even care because let's face it, no one really cares what you're wearing, how much you sweat, or what you look like because everyone is there for one reason....to work out. But for whatever reason, since I don't wear cute little workout outfits and I'm not a size 2, I feel self conscious. It's never prohibited me from going to a gym and working out though, so, I don't really know what all my fussing is about. Anyways, I was proud of myself for going alone and give myself 3 gold stars!