What’s with my math?

blue sky + sun – clouds = snow? 

Wait.  That can’t be right, can it?  Apparently.  I DON’T understand how this east coast weather works. 

Anyhoo, s’up kiddos!  Today was a mill times better than yesterday.  Thank you all for your sweet words of encouragement…lord knows I needed it today – heading in to work on the weekend (BOO).  I decided to skip the ‘bucks this morning since I woke up earlier than I needed to and my stomach was relentlessly demanding “feed me.”  I made my own cafe and silk-ed it up big time, vanilla style, yo.

The day started ick, but made a quick turn for the better.  You see I was kinda thrown for a loop on my 5 AM commute when I tried to transfer to the L train and discovered it was, in fact, not running today.  Can you picture my face when I turned the corner to a roped off platform?  I had to walk from 7th to 1st Ave in the 10 degree weather (that’s over a mile).  Along the way I was thinking how it’s a good thing I’m so type A, since I always leave ample time for such occurrences…

Then I found a lucky penny (heads side up of course).  Woo hoo.  This made me smile because we all know I’m superstitious as hell. 

“Find a penny, pick it up, all day long you’ll have good luck”

It could not have been more true!   My patients were all sweethearts, plus I discharged 2 by noon (leaving me with only 1 patient for the rest of the day).  I love discharging patients.  It makes me so happy to see them leave the hospital.  Love.

New bread!!!  I tried a new kind of Alvarado Street bread, since normally I get “california style” but it wasn’t avail.

Otherwise lunch was the same old same old (except for the thrilling addition of the pear).  My sammie was “turkey,” bell pepps, lettuce, and mustard and greek yog.

 

Unfortunately I finished my book last night so I was a bit bored after I did the crossword and finished eating…maybe I’ll stop at B&N tomorrow?  Any good recs?

Doesn’t this picture just bring a big smile to your face. 

“Couldn’t be happier.  Right dear”.  Anyone recognize the quote?

For dinner I just wanted to be with my K love (sorry for the “pet names” Laura), so I kept the cooking to a min so as to maximize veg out time (Whole Foods)!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hello baked tofu (a few were consumed pre-photo, and a few more were consumed pre-purchase) – don’t tell on me, I know there are other illegal nibblers out there…

I also made a BIG ‘OL salad with BBQ tofu.  I was obviously in a bottomless pit kind of mood – that only tofu could fill.  Mmmmmm.

The tea helped ease my stomach as it massively expanded.  I can’t WAIT for the SuperBowl tomorrow.  Even though my Eagles aren’t in it :(  I still love football, so I’ll be watching without fretting about the outcome (silver lining, right?)!

Dessert was this MONSTER of a bar (can I even call it that?…it was more like a free weight).  I love these bars from whole foods because I HATE NUTS (there I said it) and they somehow manage to create a massive hunk of dried fruit, nuts and seeds that I can’t put down after one bite.  The thing is calorically equivalent to a jar of peanut butter – I mean it’s HUGE…and has peanuts, almonds, cashews, pumpkin seeds, wheat germ, dried apricots, cherries, cranberries, raisins, etc.  Ok, how can someone like me, who can’t stand the thought of eating nuts without a little bit of a gag reflex, stomach these, and even more, devour the whole freakin’ thing!?  It’s a WF mystery.  Clearly, they are just food geniuses. 

I was beyond full after this brick settled in my tummy.  Time to roll myself to the bedroom.

I may have had a plate of dates, too.  Eek!  I need to do something physical tomorrow. 

Jan goal reeval/ new Feb goals

In hindsight, I realize my January goals may have been a bit ambitious.  I really did try to do a lot of them, so let’s see where I ended up.

1. Take my first yoga class (well, I did buy a yoga for dummies pamphlet and tried a class on exercise on demand TV)

2. Go to spinning class (yup, I heart spinning, I should really go more often) 

3. Make my own sushi (oops, maybe next month…)

4. Dinner at Candle 79 with Jess  (yup, although we went to Blossom instead)

5. Draw (yup)

6. Get a massage (well, I ended up going to Mexico, so I think that counts as my relaxing pampering treat for the month)

7. Visit friends in Philly (oops, maybe next month?)

8. Try a new vegan restaurant (Nanoosh)

9. Volunteer (All the orientation classes were full, but I did donate to Meghann’s cause, so I think that should count)

10. Read (Remember Me, Twilight, etc.)

So, now I have to figure out where I can improve and what my Feb goals should be.  Stay tuned!

February goals

1. Take a weekend trip somewhere

2. Volunteer

3.  Go to the dentist

4. Go to a new vegan restaurant with Jess

5. Take another spinning class

6.  YOGA!

7. Make my own sushi

8.  Massage!

I figured this time I’d go with a smaller list so I can make sure to really tackle all of them.  Plus Feb is short month AND several require scheduling far in advance, so I’m nervous they won’t work out for reasons outside of my control. 

Here I come February…

insert profanity here

WDE.  (I’m in a TLA mood). 

For those who aren’t too UTD…

Translations: worst day ever, three letter acronym, up to date

But in order to preserve my sanity I will do minimal venting here.  Remember the same horrible co-worker I b$%^ched about a few months ago?  Well, he’s AGAIN up to his evil, sly, scheming ways, and since his lazy apathetic nursing care was compromising the patients, I was forced to do my work AND his just to make sure certain people didn’t die.  AHHHHHHHHH!!!  I could have killed him.  I have never sworn at work before, but today I had to run into the pyxis room to scream.  Eff his effing lazy ass.  It’s aggravating just thinking about it.  Ok, breathe, relax, repeat.

Foods for the day.

AM coffee, duh.

Lunch “turkey,” hummus, and bell pepper sando.

Plus odwalla bar, figs, carob raisins, and apple.

And more coffee x2.

Thank god I had Twilight to read on the subway ride home, it really calmed me down.  I’m trying to stretch out the end because I don’t know what I want to read next.

Dinner was a mini-mexi fiesta.

I heart Amy’s burritos.  They are the perfect last minute meal…or in my case, quarter of a meal.

Veggie and black beans with half an avocado, greek yog, and salsa.

The second part of my dinner was an AMAZING bean chili concoction I made.  Heather was my inspiration for making it from its dried form.  And it WAS as easy as she said!

16 different beans, WOW!

Water and beans, that’s it.

I can’t believe I ate half a pound of beans.  That may be BNB (bad news bears) later tonight  :P

I mixed in greek yogurt and even MORE avocado and salsa.  For anyone who is thinking greek yog seems a super weird thing to have in mexican food, don’t hate.  Plain chobz taste like sour cream.

Check out this “creamy” chili.  I’m so proud of my last minute creation.

Dried fruit for deezer, APU (as per usual).

Dried pineapples and coconut date rolls.  Heaven.

Thanks for bearing with my ranting and abbrevs.  And also thanks for all the sweet comments regarding my profile info.  I honestly love  how supportive the blogging community is.  Even if I am blogging for nobody besides myself, it’s nice to know that there are others out there who struggle with the same challenges in life, whether they are related to work, food, family or friends.

gymspired

I woke with a tummy ache today :(  so I started the day off with tea.

I had the last of my Holiday Sugar Cookie Sleigh Ride Tea, so my second mug was blueberry green tea. 

 

I really like the sugar cookie tea, I’m going to have to get that one again.  SO good.  Then I had some toasted Alvarado street bread with peanut butter and cinnamon and stevia sprinkled on top.  This bread is the best, and as we all know, peanut butter is the solution to everything IN LIFE, so I was feeling pretty solid after this.

Lunch was an egg scramble with egg beaters, tofu and Earthbound greens.

It was goooood and the protein loading gave me mega-energy, so I was off to the gym.  My work out was CRAZY long.  I did 60 minutes on the elliptical at levels 10-12, then 30 minutes on the tread mill (fast AND inclined), followed by 30 minutes of abs, arms, and stretching.  I actually could have kept going, but I didn’t want to be sore at work the next day.  Once I got home I had a snack to hold me over until dinner.  This PM snack was also the one I entered in the OhSheGlows contest

YUM!  Open faced PB&J with nanners and cinnamon on top.  The balance of all the ingreds can’t be beat.  It provides energy when you need it the most, but more importantly, it tastes good. 

Dinner was hummus-y because after reading GlidingCalm’s blog, I was in a Sabra kind of mood. 

GN veggie burger, lettuce (Earthbound obvi), and a POUND of sabra hummus, all on a WW english muffin.  Boo-ya! 

The hummus MADE the dish.  These were Thomas english muffins because the store was out of Ezekiel ones (boo).  They were good, but not as thick and chewy as Ezek.  Still, they did the trick.  I also had some carrots with hummus.

Plus another hummus dollop and the rest of the baby carrots.

I was craving something sweet in a major way, and then I realized why.  I haven’t had any fruit (dried or fresh) ALL DAY!!  Whoa!?  So not like me…so I had some coconut date rolls.

Followed by MORE coconut date rolls, and an apple with coconut and cinnamon sprinkled on top.  Sugary fruity yum.

This is my first of 4 glasses of tea (sugar cookie sleigh ride)…it is almost worth making JUST to say the name. 

I creamed K in Rumikube :)  Yeah, we are that couple…board games on a school night.  I guess that’s what happens when it’s 10-20 degrees outside.  Can’t fight that.

Also I finally added an “about me” page if any peeps are interested.  I’m not too hip with computer stuff though so I hope the link works.

popped my TJ cherry

I finally made it to the only Trader Joe’s in Manhattan.  Seriously, I’ve been doing walk-bys for months now (it is RIGHT next to work after all) and each time I venture close, I chicken out when I see the line.  You would think that having a line out the door every day of the week would clue them in to maybe open another store, but I guess not everyone is as business savvy as I am (right?). 

Ok, but let me back the eff up to the beginning of the day.

SBUX in the AM with a TON of silk.

“Turkey” sammie.

What an original lunch.  Btw, figs and carob raisins are officially my new OBSESSION!!!!

Work today was fairly boring.  Cardiac surgery seems to be at a stand still, so our unit is full of randos.  2 of my patients today were certifiably crazy (that’s my medical diagnosis not theirs), and I’m not big on psych, so it was a challenge at times.  Another patient was a prisoner, so the hospital stay was actually more like a holiday for him.  Don’t worry he was handcuffed with cops guarding him the entire time, but still, WEIRD.  And he had a bullet in him, so he couldn’t get an MRI…oh, the stories I have.  I should write down some quotes because you can’t make this stuff up!   

Moving on.

On the way home from work I decided I deserved a treat, having endured 3 days in a row of work – even though I am currently way over my weekly food budget (and it’s only Wednesday)!!!  I pretty much always think continuous shifts warrant treats, but whatever.  This usually means Whole Foods, but since I had a gift card to TJs and it was snowing/raining, I figured the line would be more tolerable…so I gave it a shot.  I L.O.V.E. Trader Joes.  I could have wandered around the store for hours, but I was starving, so I made it snappy.  And although the line was looooong, it was only 20 minutes of waiting rather than the typical 45.

Bag ‘o goodies includes: cubed sweet potatoes, cubed BN squash, figs, brocc slaw, frozen veggies, fake meat, tofu, pomegranate soda.  Score!

Dinner was a salad with “fancy” lettuce (love Earthbound Farms), edamame, steamed broccoli, tomato, and Boca chik’n nuggets. 

I chopped up the nuggets and added them to the top of the salad and drizzled on some BBQ sauce.  I had a second plate (not as exciting though) with more lettuce, tomato, and the rest of the chik’n nuggets.

And of course the best part of Wednesdays followed…Top Chef.  I really love Carla and Jamie.  Any one else a Top Chef fan?  I pretty much love all things Bravo.

I couldn’t resist this once I saw it at TJs.  I don’t drink soda, so this was a really bizarre purchase.  But I can’t say no to anything pomegranate.    This was GOOD!  I only bought one, though, so no worries, I won’t get hooked. When it comes to fake sugar, I’ve got a “just say no” policy (wellllll….I try).  Still a nice treat.

I had a big dessert plate, full of coco date rolls, FIGS, and carob covered raisins. 

I kinda continued grazing the rest of the night, too.

These figs were the new ones I bought from TJs.  WAY better than the other bin figs I have been getting from our local health foods store.  Sorry in advance for the coming months which will most likely be a series of blogs regarding my love affair with figs.  It’s inevitable (I’ve been savoring sub-par figs, can you blame me?)!

And a few more coconut date rolls…is it possible to have too much dried fruit?  Don’t answer that.  (I think I already know the answer)

I smell like Mucomyst

And it’s NOT pretty…it may be the worst smell ever.

No.  It’s definitely the worst smell ever.  Yep, I just conducted a study.  9 out of 10 researchers agreed with me (I think the 10th guy was sleeping with the drug rep). 

I may be off “egg” products for a while because of this…

Lunch

Same sammie as ayer (bell pepps, “turkey,” greek yog, and hummus)

Plus the usual side-kicks, along with a NEWBIE (and new obsession).  Dude, figs and carob covered raisins = heaven.  Holy yum, talk about a party in my mouth!!  I like eating them at the same time, it’s, like, THE best.

Naturally a liter of Starbucks’ coffee made it’s way in there (12 hour shifts demand it, so I don’t feel remotely guilty).  .

Dinner.

Tofu, fresh edamame, fresh steamed brocc, frozen veggies, shirataki soy noodles.  In bulk.

Can you believe I took this pic only half way through?!  I was getting super full and the end was no where in sight…but of course I finished it.  Duh!?!  It looks yummy, huh :)

I was surprisingly stuffed after this.  I made a cup of tea with silk.

Obviously the entrepreneur mag is not mine…but the greenbox article was cool.  Hooray for being green!

Did I say I was too full for dessert?  Riiiiiight.  Coconut date rolls, figs, carob covered raisins…and more tea.  I think this was the first platter, but there were quite a few, so it’s hard to keep track. 

Time to shower.  This may have been one of the most necessary showers of my life.