Once in a blue moon

Here in the land that time forgot, we can pretty much eat anything we want. I am pretty sure that the guide to healthy eating has never made its way to this neck of the woods.

Sure, we advertise no Trans Fat. In the produce aisle, behind the candy display, is the eat 7 a day poster but really other than that, butter, cream and all that goodness is still alive and well.

We are a large population down here. Everything that can be deep fried, is. Everything that can use a dipping sauce, pretty much has 10 to 15 to choose from. Salads have cheese, croutons, and those little hated shrimps all over them. We have a huge amount of dessert products. You can have popcorn while you shop the hardware store. Candy stores outnumber locals and you can easily buy 8 different kinds of ready made whip cream.

It is a constant struggle to maintain a healthy eating lifestyle and I have been doing a piss poor job at it. Luckily I have so much to do that I haven't gained any of the weight back but neither have I shed anymore.

If I was being truthful, I would have to say I like it a little bit. In Seattle, everything has a low-fat/non-fat option. When I lunch with friends, I can't remember the time it didn't involve a plain salad and water. All of that is good for you, I know it, and most of the time, I do it. Down here, I haven't been doing so much of it.

Today I went to lunch. Had spinach tortellini in CREAM sauce, Had a appetizer of cheesy bread (which, yep, is just what you think it is, cheese goodness, three kinds, broiled on french bread. Oh, god, it is delicious!) and two glasses of wine. IN THE MIDDLE OF THE DAY! The kid had steak medallions with deep fried potato pancakes with a side order of blue cheese dipping sauce. He followed it with a dessert of carrot cake.

It was easy a lunch of 1 million calories and the fat content was seriously OFF the chart. Yet, it was so delicious. So wonderful, that I didn't feel an ounce of regret. Tomorrow it is back to the salads, the cut up pineapple, the billion of glasses of water, the chicken breast cooked with no sauces, the baby carrots and the cauliflower.

That is what I appreciate about the change of lifestyle. Everything in moderation. I wouldn't want to eat like that every day, but once in a blue moon, OH it IS sweet!

What's for Dinner?

Happy Memorial Day!

I love three day weekends. I love the sleeping in part. The no schedule part. And the no making dinner part.

I don't like to cook. I like to eat but I would enjoy having my own chef. And the dude who brings the food to the table and also one to wash the dishes. I have none of those things and don't see them heading my way anytime soon, so it is just me. The kid can make au juis sandwiches and guacamole. He has inherited my lack of cooking skills, though he does make great guacamole.

I stick with the basics. Tacos, spaghetti, chicken, cheese and crackers, baked potatoes, salads, enchiladas, and the like. I cook more now than I did when I was married. The ex was very picky and pretty much hated everything that didn't start with the word "Fritos" and end with the words "& Bean Dip." The kid is a very adventurous eater. I am a salad and pineapple eater. The dogs are dry dog food and water eaters.

So every night it is another ongoing battle to prepare something that two radically different people can eat. Tacos are my favorite, the kid hates taco night and just eats the rice with cheese on top. I want to just shovel the taco meat from the pan directly into my mouth, I love it that much. I make one taco and put the rest in the fridge. I love spaghetti night, the kid hates spaghetti night and eats the bread. I make chicken, I hate chicken night and the kid absolutely loves chicken. I like baked potatoes, the kid does not. We both like cheese and cracker night only both of us will have different cheeses and different crackers. We both like salads. He despises enchiladas and will not even come downstairs for dinner. We plug on. Sandwich night, good. Fruit and Veggies night, good. Grilled cheese & soup night, good for me, the kid is withering on the floor in horrible disbelief. Muffin night, super, super good. Going out to dinner night, SPECTACULAR good.

S0 every night except Thursday which is pizza night, you can find me in the kitchen. My i-Pod blaring, two dogs trying to rip my toes off, and me with my head stuck in the Fridge hoping for inspiration. Or that somehow my chef is stuck in the Fridge and that is why all the cooking has fallen on me.

When I start to date again, I am so going to make that a requirement. He cooks. Or at least knows wonderful take out joints that deliver. Cause once that kid goes to college, this diner is closed.

Sunny Days are Here Again!

So again from vacation. Our photo of the day are surfer dudes and probably some dudettes!
We headed into the big town today. Astoria. We have exhausted the food options at our local Safeway. Yesterday they ran out of deli turkey, which I seriously didn't know was possible, so we were forced to load up the wagon and hit the Oregon trail.

Astoria has a fancy new Safeway. They had turkey. Such a show off is Astoria. They also have organic food. We are eating well tonight.

Actually we are going out to dinner tonight. At least I hope we are. The restaurants down here have the most unusual times to be opened and closed. The cafe, closed on Tuesday. The bakery, closed on Sunday and Monday. All restaurants stop serving any food at all at 9:30. No ordering baked potatoes, rice, or pasta until after 3. I swear I will need to keep a small laminated card in my wallet for restaurant dining.

Plus, being near water and all, shrimp come on everything. Salad, toast, pancakes, oatmeal. It is a constant battle to not have those little disgusting pink things touch all of my food. The conversations always involve the words No! not on the side, No, not on a separate plate. Just No Shrimp Anywhere. It is a lot like trying to get your dressing on the side. It seems to not make sense down here. I actually prefer no dressing, but that is incomprehensible and so not worth the argument.

There are no light options except for the cottage cheese plate, which is just frightening to behold. Even asking for dry toast involves some sort of discussion. I am so stuck up about my food seems to be the thought that travels through every one's mind. I just feel with all the calories I'm saving on stupid things, like dressing and butter, I can have a cupcake instead. I adore cupcakes.

Our home is the turnaround point for the Coast Guard Helicopter. If you look closely in the picture, you should be able to see it. A few times a day, the big orange and white helicopter heads down the coast. It is keeping an eye on all things sea related. Over the years we have seen some rescues. A few boats broken down that needed help. One summer a baby whale swam into the cove area. This worried his mother to no end. She wouldn't enter the cove but the baby frolicked in the nice warm water without a care in the world. It also started to worry the town for if the mom entered she would be hard pressed to get back out. The helicopter flew over lower and lower but it didn't work, that baby was toasty warm and was in no mind to leave. Finally, the coast guard boat came into the picture and drove the baby back out to sea much to the relief of his mom. I'm sure there was some whale scolding that went on when that baby got home.

Well that is all the beach news for today. Tomorrow, same bat time, same bat channel.

Can we all count to Four?

Wednesday is the day I spend quite a bit of time on the road. I am used to people eating, talking on their cell phones, gesturing widely while telling a story, conducting a rock band, shaving, and holding dogs on their laps, all the while trying to control their automobile with their elbow or knee. Or as I saw today, their chin.

Fascinating, I tell you. I really enjoy driving when that little bit of terror is thrown at me. Sure, just change lanes, with no turn-signals because as a matter of fact, I can read minds. Sure, turn right from the left hand turn lane, because I didn't need that side of my car anyway. Sure, dart across three lanes of traffic to catch that exit, because I needed to know my anti-lock brakes really do work the way they say they do.

It is all part of sharing the roads, throw in some bicyclists, maybe the sun, someone looking for an address, a garbage truck and we are all just having some serious fun here.

But four way stops, come on people, how hard are they really? You can count to four without taking off your shoes and socks, heck you only need one hand. Four glasses of wine, 2 too many (OK, 1, but still) Four donuts, delicious, but unnecessary. Four pieces of bacon, a dream come true. Four bracelets, the perfect jingly accessory.

Yet, today, total dismal failure for drivers of their cars to count to four. Add in one or two turn lanes, a pedestrian and we are at full grid-lock. Go, Stop, Go, Stop, Honk, Flip Off, Go, Stop, scare pedestrian half to death, Go.

The whole drive to the intersection took less time then actually making it through the four way stop. One person decided to not stop at all, which is always thrilling. One person thought if you stop two cars back, that is enough stopping for that one intersection. Or, my personal favorite, FLOOR IT, and don't look back. Or the saddest of all, someone who has just given up and is permanently stuck in their lane while the cars behind them honk up a storm.

I think if we all try we can achieve this one little goal, to get through the four way stop without swearing, slamming on the brakes, or having a stare down with someone who went when it wasn't their turn.

Now I am off to give it another try. Wish me well!