Christmas dinner is over. It was a quiet one this year - just Mom, Dad, and me. Not like when I was a kid and the house was full of people. Gosh there were lots of us. We lived up North then - where Christmas really felt like Christmas because it was cold and there was snow. We live in the South now...mainly because it's not nearly as cold and there's rarely any snow.
Back when I was a kid, there were always at least a dozen people at the dinner table for every holiday. We'd celebrate at my Grandma & Grandpa's. They would spend hours and hours cooking. Mom & Dad would help. No matter who else would come, it was guaranteed that my Uncle Everett and Aunt Iole would be there. And, my Uncle Donald and Aunt Hazel would be there, too. ALWAYS.
And, ALWAYS, Hazel (like the rest of the family) would sit down at the table and build a plate a food made up of delicious roasted turkey and dressing - with homemade croutons, mashed potatoes...the real ones, gravy, cranberry salad, an assortment of vegetables and salads. There'd be dinner rolls - homemade from scratch - and real butter to put on them. The food would go on and on. It would fill the center of the table, line the buffet on the side of the room, cover the cutting boards set on top of the radiators, and fill two card tables set up along the other wall. Plus there'd be more out in the kitchen. But ALWAYS, Hazel would comment on how good the pickles were! I never remember her ever commenting on anything else. Not one of the delicious dishes slaved over by my parents or grandparents. But she sure liked those jars of pickles from the grocery store. No matter the holiday, she pointed out how good they were. I'd give anything for her to be alive today and have her comment on the pickles Mom and Dad served with dinner.
She'd have had something else to comment on today. You see, Hazel was one member of our family who was always mindful of my weight. "Charmi, honey, you're rear is getting bigger. Perhaps you shouldn't have such a big piece of pumpkin pie today." Nope, she wasn't afraid to point it out if I was gaining weight. However, she was also quick to point it out if I was losing weight! "Why Charmi, I think you're losing weight! I can see it in your knuckles!" That was Hazel! She always saw by butt getting bigger and my fingers getting smaller. It was never the other way around!
This Christmas, she would have seen my knuckles about 50 pounds thinner. She probably would have even pointed at my knuckles with a baby gherkin as she told everyone that I was losing weight. And, I would have been so proud, I'd have taken a smaller piece of pumpkin pie to make sure my knuckles kept getting smaller - because they still have more to lose.
Merry Christmas, Hazel! (And Donald, Everett, and Iole...and Grandma & Grandpa and Grandpa. I miss you all so much!)
Thursday, December 25, 2008
Wednesday, December 24, 2008
Merry Christmas!
Christmas Eve already. It seems like just yesterday I was listening to Mannheim Steamroller and thinking that Christmas was so far away. Now it's almost over.
I've had two health related goals this month - avoid eating the holiday sweets and maintain my workout schedule. I've managed to hang on to both of them...although somedays just by my fingernails! So I bet you're wondering how much weight I've lost this month! Ready? Nothing! Zero! Zilch! Nada! UGH! BUT...I haven't gained anything either. I call that I major victory.
The month isn't over yet so I'm not willing to throw in the towel. Nor am I willing to do the victory dance. There's plenty of time for it to go either way. But I'm still pretty proud of the way things have gone so far.
Santa is coming tonight. What's on your list this year? I researched some Tiffany jewelry for my novel so you know what I want! LOL! Maybe someday. Maybe that will be my reward to myself when my novel is published or when I reach my weight-loss goal. Or both!
I hope you have the Merriest Christmas ever - or the Happiest Hanukkah if that is the holiday you celebrate. And for those of you really lucky enough, I wish you Mele Kalikimaka!
I've had two health related goals this month - avoid eating the holiday sweets and maintain my workout schedule. I've managed to hang on to both of them...although somedays just by my fingernails! So I bet you're wondering how much weight I've lost this month! Ready? Nothing! Zero! Zilch! Nada! UGH! BUT...I haven't gained anything either. I call that I major victory.
The month isn't over yet so I'm not willing to throw in the towel. Nor am I willing to do the victory dance. There's plenty of time for it to go either way. But I'm still pretty proud of the way things have gone so far.
Santa is coming tonight. What's on your list this year? I researched some Tiffany jewelry for my novel so you know what I want! LOL! Maybe someday. Maybe that will be my reward to myself when my novel is published or when I reach my weight-loss goal. Or both!
I hope you have the Merriest Christmas ever - or the Happiest Hanukkah if that is the holiday you celebrate. And for those of you really lucky enough, I wish you Mele Kalikimaka!
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Oh Fudge!
Not just fudge - but chocolate-covered nuts and a box of candy, too! Yep. Three boxes of candy in the last four days. All from friends who know I'm trying to lose weight. One from someone who goes to the gym with me!
I've gotta tell you, none of this sits well with me. Don't tell me "it's the thought that counts" because there was no thought put into these gifts. Seriously. If I was an alcoholic would they have given me a bottle of wine? Or if I was recovering from lung cancer would they have handed me a carton of cigarettes? I hope not! So please, no chocolate for the overweight gal working so damn hard to find her thin, healthy self again.
Tomorrow, the candy is going to the food bank along with several healthy items. I have a personal rule to only donate healthy items to the food bank but the candy is too expensive to just throw away. (My friends do have excellent taste in chocolate!) So, three families will get a special holiday treat this week. Perhaps that's the best gift of all.
I've gotta tell you, none of this sits well with me. Don't tell me "it's the thought that counts" because there was no thought put into these gifts. Seriously. If I was an alcoholic would they have given me a bottle of wine? Or if I was recovering from lung cancer would they have handed me a carton of cigarettes? I hope not! So please, no chocolate for the overweight gal working so damn hard to find her thin, healthy self again.
Tomorrow, the candy is going to the food bank along with several healthy items. I have a personal rule to only donate healthy items to the food bank but the candy is too expensive to just throw away. (My friends do have excellent taste in chocolate!) So, three families will get a special holiday treat this week. Perhaps that's the best gift of all.
Saturday, December 13, 2008
It's All A Mystery...
So you've still got some holiday shopping to do and the folks on your list are mystery fans. Good! So am I! I've been trying to figure out how best to organize today's suggestions and have decided upon doing it by author.
For the most part, I prefer "cozy" mysteries. Ones that are not graphic or violent or full of blood and gore. I like to work the puzzle of what happened and enjoy the characters. My favorites are ones that involve travel, shopping, and (surprise!) food. There are a few exceptions to my cozy rule and I will list two of my favorites after I list some cozy authors. One, sadly, passed away a couple months ago. The other is still writing but not fast enough for me. (All I want for Christmas is for Kirk Mitchell to finish the next book in his mystery series. I'm waiting!)
Now for a few cozy authors...
MADDY HUNTER - Maddy writes the Passport to Peril series. These are FUN travel mysteries that take place all around the world. Emily Andrew escorts a group of old folks from Iowa (including her grandma) on tours to Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Hawaii (on a cruise), Australia, and Norway. Where ever they go, it is a given that people will turn up dead - in the darnedest ways. The adventures of these senior citizens and Emily's efforts to reign them in are hilarious. If I had to recommend one, I'd suggest HULA DONE IT?...only because I'm in a Hawaiian kind of mood. All of Maddy's books are enjoyable. Note that there is a running romance throughout the series so if you want to pick up where it starts, start with Switzerland (ALPINE FOR YOU). It's not necessary though. Perfect for the traveler - armchair or otherwise - on your list.
TAMAR MYERS - Tamar writes two series - Den of Antiquity and Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery. Both are good. My favorite of the two is the Den of Antiquity series. The D of A books are set in Charlotte and Charleston. The only problem is, now I'm always afraid I'll find a dead body when I'm searching for treasure in the local antique stores! Tamar, like Maddy, writes with a lot of humor. All of her books are fun, fast reads. Do you have someone on your list who is a fan of Antiques Roadshow? Get them one of the Den of Antiquity mysteries!
JOANNE FLUKE - Joanne writes clever cooking - actually baking - mysteries! Her characters are definitely memorable. And, her recipes are quite tasty, too. Reach into the "Cookie Jar" and grab one of these mysteries for a person on your list who enjoys mysteries and baking.
There are literally hundreds of cozy mystery writers writing series for any subject you can think of - NASCAR, dogs, cats, bird watching, scrapbooking, quilting - you name it! Go into your bookstore and look in the mystery section. You will see the series all lined up. Look through the books. I bet you'll find something for yourself and for the people on your list.
Now for the not-so-cozy recommendations. First up, Tony Hillerman.
TONY HILLERMAN - Tony wrote Navajo mysteries better than anyone around, in my opinion. His Chee and Leaphorn mysteries wove the Navajo legends and beliefs in with the modern day realities of life on the reservation. Like the authors I mentioned above, any of his books are excellent choices. Men and women alike enjoy his writing and are immediately engaged in the mystery from page one. In addition to his mysteries, he wrote one of the best memoirs I've ever read. I mentioned it in an earlier post but it bears repeating. SELDOM DISAPPOINTED is an excellent read. If you have someone on you list who likes books on tape, you can find man of Tony's books, including his memoir, in the audiobook section of your bookstore!
KIRK MITCHELL - If there is anyone who even comes close to Tony Hillerman in the category of American Indian mysteries, it is Kirk Mitchell. CRY DANCE is the first in his series of Emmett Parker - Anna Turnipseed mysteries. He leaves the Navajo to Hillerman, but he engages several other Indian nations in his writing as Parker is 1/2 Comanche and Turnipseed is 1/2 Modoc. CRY DANCE starts on the Havasupai reservation but moves to other locations, including Las Vegas. Mitchell includes even more Indian legend than Hillerman in his writing. Be forewarned, he is also more graphic. And, you may have guessed that with a man and woman, there is also some romantic tension. I mentioned CRY DANCE first because of this. The tension builds throughout the series. CD is followed by SPIRIT SICKNESS, ANCIENT ONES, SKY WOMAN FALLING, and DANCE OF THE THUNDER DOGS. If you have someone on your list who enjoys Hillerman but has read all his books, pick up this series for them.
Again, a gift card to a bookstore is an excellent option, too! And pick up a book for yourself while you're picking up that gift card!
Seasons readings!
For the most part, I prefer "cozy" mysteries. Ones that are not graphic or violent or full of blood and gore. I like to work the puzzle of what happened and enjoy the characters. My favorites are ones that involve travel, shopping, and (surprise!) food. There are a few exceptions to my cozy rule and I will list two of my favorites after I list some cozy authors. One, sadly, passed away a couple months ago. The other is still writing but not fast enough for me. (All I want for Christmas is for Kirk Mitchell to finish the next book in his mystery series. I'm waiting!)
Now for a few cozy authors...
MADDY HUNTER - Maddy writes the Passport to Peril series. These are FUN travel mysteries that take place all around the world. Emily Andrew escorts a group of old folks from Iowa (including her grandma) on tours to Ireland, Switzerland, Italy, Hawaii (on a cruise), Australia, and Norway. Where ever they go, it is a given that people will turn up dead - in the darnedest ways. The adventures of these senior citizens and Emily's efforts to reign them in are hilarious. If I had to recommend one, I'd suggest HULA DONE IT?...only because I'm in a Hawaiian kind of mood. All of Maddy's books are enjoyable. Note that there is a running romance throughout the series so if you want to pick up where it starts, start with Switzerland (ALPINE FOR YOU). It's not necessary though. Perfect for the traveler - armchair or otherwise - on your list.
TAMAR MYERS - Tamar writes two series - Den of Antiquity and Pennsylvania Dutch Mystery. Both are good. My favorite of the two is the Den of Antiquity series. The D of A books are set in Charlotte and Charleston. The only problem is, now I'm always afraid I'll find a dead body when I'm searching for treasure in the local antique stores! Tamar, like Maddy, writes with a lot of humor. All of her books are fun, fast reads. Do you have someone on your list who is a fan of Antiques Roadshow? Get them one of the Den of Antiquity mysteries!
JOANNE FLUKE - Joanne writes clever cooking - actually baking - mysteries! Her characters are definitely memorable. And, her recipes are quite tasty, too. Reach into the "Cookie Jar" and grab one of these mysteries for a person on your list who enjoys mysteries and baking.
There are literally hundreds of cozy mystery writers writing series for any subject you can think of - NASCAR, dogs, cats, bird watching, scrapbooking, quilting - you name it! Go into your bookstore and look in the mystery section. You will see the series all lined up. Look through the books. I bet you'll find something for yourself and for the people on your list.
Now for the not-so-cozy recommendations. First up, Tony Hillerman.
TONY HILLERMAN - Tony wrote Navajo mysteries better than anyone around, in my opinion. His Chee and Leaphorn mysteries wove the Navajo legends and beliefs in with the modern day realities of life on the reservation. Like the authors I mentioned above, any of his books are excellent choices. Men and women alike enjoy his writing and are immediately engaged in the mystery from page one. In addition to his mysteries, he wrote one of the best memoirs I've ever read. I mentioned it in an earlier post but it bears repeating. SELDOM DISAPPOINTED is an excellent read. If you have someone on you list who likes books on tape, you can find man of Tony's books, including his memoir, in the audiobook section of your bookstore!
KIRK MITCHELL - If there is anyone who even comes close to Tony Hillerman in the category of American Indian mysteries, it is Kirk Mitchell. CRY DANCE is the first in his series of Emmett Parker - Anna Turnipseed mysteries. He leaves the Navajo to Hillerman, but he engages several other Indian nations in his writing as Parker is 1/2 Comanche and Turnipseed is 1/2 Modoc. CRY DANCE starts on the Havasupai reservation but moves to other locations, including Las Vegas. Mitchell includes even more Indian legend than Hillerman in his writing. Be forewarned, he is also more graphic. And, you may have guessed that with a man and woman, there is also some romantic tension. I mentioned CRY DANCE first because of this. The tension builds throughout the series. CD is followed by SPIRIT SICKNESS, ANCIENT ONES, SKY WOMAN FALLING, and DANCE OF THE THUNDER DOGS. If you have someone on your list who enjoys Hillerman but has read all his books, pick up this series for them.
Again, a gift card to a bookstore is an excellent option, too! And pick up a book for yourself while you're picking up that gift card!
Seasons readings!
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Christmas Shopping? Please Buy A Book!
Okay gang, times are tight this year. You're probably wondering what to get the people who are left on your list. And, by left on your list, I don't necessarily mean those you haven't yet shopped for...I mean those that you haven't had to cross off due to lack of funds. Either way, the BEST deal going is books. It's also one of the most thoughtful gifts.
Now, some of you are probably thinking "but I don't know what book to get this person or that person". Well, that's okay. I'll help you out with some suggestions in a minute. But, if none of these seem to fit, get a gift card to a local bookstore and let the recipient pick out their own book. Present it with a pretty bookmark and wa-la...a GREAT gift the person will enjoy for endless hours. C'mon - we all have enough clothes and dust-collectors. Everyone loves a good book. Trust me on this! Your gift will be loved - and remembered!!
So here goes - some suggestions for books I've enjoyed and given as gifts...
EARTHLY PLEASURES - Karen Neches - (Simon & Schuster) What do the angels watch in Heaven? The hit reality show Earthly Pleasures, of course! It's heavenly greeter Skye Sebring's favorite show - especially when she wants to track the activities of a certain hunk after his near-death experience. What follows is a bit mystery, a bit romance, and a whole bunch of fun! Anyone who enjoys a fun book will enjoy reading this tale. While EARTHLY PLEASURES was written for adults, it is appropriate for older teen readers as well.
SUMMER AT TIFFANY - Marjorie Hart - (William Morrow) What college student hasn't turned to their best friend and schemed about running away to a big city for the summer? Who hasn't imagined the adventures of youth? Imagine two single college gals doing that in 1945. Better than imagining it, read about it in this memoir written by 82 year-old Marjorie Hart. From celebrities to soldiers, you'll have fun reliving the summer of '45 when Marjorie and her best friend Marty spent the summer working as pages at Tiffany & Co. - a long way from their home in Iowa. And, if you're like me, you'll hold your breath and realize that you would find yourself in the exact same spot as Marjorie in the Tiffany elevator! Again, this book would be appropriate for all ages. If you have a person on your gift list who remembers the 1940's, this would be a perfect gift for them! (And, it's available in large print.)
THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN - Garth Stein - (Harper) Enzo the dog wants to be reincarnated as a man. He should - he knows more about humans than most humans do. This is a wonderful book that will make you, at times, sad and mad but will leave you damn glad you read it. You'll cry but plenty of those tears will be from laughter. Read this book - and scratch your dog behind his ears just a little bit longer tonight. If you have a dog-lover or race-lover on your list, this book will appeal to them. (btw - I'm a dog-lover...racing, not so much - but I really enjoyed this book.)
WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL! - Fannie Flagg - (Ballentine) New York City to Elmwood Springs, Missouri, this novel follows the journey of TV anchorwoman Dena Nordstrom as she searches for answers about her family's secret past. Fannie Flagg's humor shines through in creating memorable characters from the nosey Southern neighbors to the New York shrink. This is a book that hits you with an "I'll be darned!" moment and you'll wonder why you didn't see it coming. But no one I've given this book to has ever seen it coming - and they all agree it was right there all along. This is my favorite of Ms. Flagg's books.
MR. MONK AND THE BLUE FLU - Lee Goldberg - (Signet) Actually, ALL of the Monk books are excellent and I'd recommend any of them. Lee Goldberg does a phenomenal job of capturing Mr. Monk and his eccentricities in these novels. For the Monk lover, these are a must. The the casual Monk viewer, these are still a must. You might find you enjoy the books more than the show!
Be sure to treat yourself to a book or two while you're visiting the bookstore.
I have more books on my list of suggestions. I'll post them over the next couple days. In the meantime, take a look at your gift list and jot down a title or two for each person on your list. They will be glad you did!
Happy readings to all!
Now, some of you are probably thinking "but I don't know what book to get this person or that person". Well, that's okay. I'll help you out with some suggestions in a minute. But, if none of these seem to fit, get a gift card to a local bookstore and let the recipient pick out their own book. Present it with a pretty bookmark and wa-la...a GREAT gift the person will enjoy for endless hours. C'mon - we all have enough clothes and dust-collectors. Everyone loves a good book. Trust me on this! Your gift will be loved - and remembered!!
So here goes - some suggestions for books I've enjoyed and given as gifts...
EARTHLY PLEASURES - Karen Neches - (Simon & Schuster) What do the angels watch in Heaven? The hit reality show Earthly Pleasures, of course! It's heavenly greeter Skye Sebring's favorite show - especially when she wants to track the activities of a certain hunk after his near-death experience. What follows is a bit mystery, a bit romance, and a whole bunch of fun! Anyone who enjoys a fun book will enjoy reading this tale. While EARTHLY PLEASURES was written for adults, it is appropriate for older teen readers as well.
SUMMER AT TIFFANY - Marjorie Hart - (William Morrow) What college student hasn't turned to their best friend and schemed about running away to a big city for the summer? Who hasn't imagined the adventures of youth? Imagine two single college gals doing that in 1945. Better than imagining it, read about it in this memoir written by 82 year-old Marjorie Hart. From celebrities to soldiers, you'll have fun reliving the summer of '45 when Marjorie and her best friend Marty spent the summer working as pages at Tiffany & Co. - a long way from their home in Iowa. And, if you're like me, you'll hold your breath and realize that you would find yourself in the exact same spot as Marjorie in the Tiffany elevator! Again, this book would be appropriate for all ages. If you have a person on your gift list who remembers the 1940's, this would be a perfect gift for them! (And, it's available in large print.)
THE ART OF RACING IN THE RAIN - Garth Stein - (Harper) Enzo the dog wants to be reincarnated as a man. He should - he knows more about humans than most humans do. This is a wonderful book that will make you, at times, sad and mad but will leave you damn glad you read it. You'll cry but plenty of those tears will be from laughter. Read this book - and scratch your dog behind his ears just a little bit longer tonight. If you have a dog-lover or race-lover on your list, this book will appeal to them. (btw - I'm a dog-lover...racing, not so much - but I really enjoyed this book.)
WELCOME TO THE WORLD, BABY GIRL! - Fannie Flagg - (Ballentine) New York City to Elmwood Springs, Missouri, this novel follows the journey of TV anchorwoman Dena Nordstrom as she searches for answers about her family's secret past. Fannie Flagg's humor shines through in creating memorable characters from the nosey Southern neighbors to the New York shrink. This is a book that hits you with an "I'll be darned!" moment and you'll wonder why you didn't see it coming. But no one I've given this book to has ever seen it coming - and they all agree it was right there all along. This is my favorite of Ms. Flagg's books.
MR. MONK AND THE BLUE FLU - Lee Goldberg - (Signet) Actually, ALL of the Monk books are excellent and I'd recommend any of them. Lee Goldberg does a phenomenal job of capturing Mr. Monk and his eccentricities in these novels. For the Monk lover, these are a must. The the casual Monk viewer, these are still a must. You might find you enjoy the books more than the show!
Be sure to treat yourself to a book or two while you're visiting the bookstore.
I have more books on my list of suggestions. I'll post them over the next couple days. In the meantime, take a look at your gift list and jot down a title or two for each person on your list. They will be glad you did!
Happy readings to all!
Monday, December 8, 2008
It's Better In The Middle
A friend was talking to me about Christmas cookies, lamenting the fact that she had to "bake" when she didn't much feel like it. I love baking Christmas cookies but have cut w-a-y back on this hobby over the past couple years. I don't need to eat 'em, so I try to limit making 'em, too. Anyway, I asked her what she was making. She was dipping Double-Stuff Oreos in milk chocolate! Somehow, I don't think that qualifies as "baking Christmas cookies". Mind you, I've eaten my share of these dipped goodies. I've even made my share of 'em. But, I've NEVER considered this "baking". And, I've certainly never thought to complain about the work involved. LOL!
But her mention of Oreos brought up a college memory that I'm almost embarrassed to mention. (So what better thing to do than to blog about it?!)
It was my freshman year. At Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, the freshmen were squirreled away in Carman Hall. Carman was actually two halls - a twin tower...one male and one female. Yep - a co-ed dorm! And, it was W-A-A-A-Y across campus across what was referred to as "the tundra". There was the EIU campus with all the academic buildings, then the other dorms, then this HUGE open field that went on forever, then Carman Hall. Where all the freshman girls and boys were. Out in the middle of nowhere. I think they put it over there, you know - across the tundra, because it was as far away from the bars as you could get.
My dorm room was on the 5th floor of the girls' tower - the middle floor. One of the first tasks assigned to all the Carman residents was to make floor shirts. So, the second week, we all gathered in our floor's common area and set about this very serious task. It didn't take long before we had our floor motto: It's Better In The Middle.
We giggled and laughed and turned red. Our Resident Assistant warned us about the picture for the shirts. "Young ladies, I know you are excited about your freedom but be careful how far you go with this." That brought about another round of laughter.
While everyone was picturing some pretty interesting scenes with the guys from the other half of Carman, I...you know, the biggest gal on the floor...was drawing a picture of Oreo cookies. What?! They ARE better in the middle! Right? Right!
We were voted the best shirts in all of Carman Hall that year. Not one of those skinny little freshmen would have ever come up with that design!
(Speaking of design, note to college administrators: not such a good idea to put your freshmen as far as possible from classes as you can...especially when they haven't yet developed the habit of getting up and going to class, and if they have to walk across a 2-block wide "tundra" in winter, and if there is a tower of kids of the opposite sex an elevator ride away. I'm just saying.)
But her mention of Oreos brought up a college memory that I'm almost embarrassed to mention. (So what better thing to do than to blog about it?!)
It was my freshman year. At Eastern Illinois University in Charleston, Illinois, the freshmen were squirreled away in Carman Hall. Carman was actually two halls - a twin tower...one male and one female. Yep - a co-ed dorm! And, it was W-A-A-A-Y across campus across what was referred to as "the tundra". There was the EIU campus with all the academic buildings, then the other dorms, then this HUGE open field that went on forever, then Carman Hall. Where all the freshman girls and boys were. Out in the middle of nowhere. I think they put it over there, you know - across the tundra, because it was as far away from the bars as you could get.
My dorm room was on the 5th floor of the girls' tower - the middle floor. One of the first tasks assigned to all the Carman residents was to make floor shirts. So, the second week, we all gathered in our floor's common area and set about this very serious task. It didn't take long before we had our floor motto: It's Better In The Middle.
We giggled and laughed and turned red. Our Resident Assistant warned us about the picture for the shirts. "Young ladies, I know you are excited about your freedom but be careful how far you go with this." That brought about another round of laughter.
While everyone was picturing some pretty interesting scenes with the guys from the other half of Carman, I...you know, the biggest gal on the floor...was drawing a picture of Oreo cookies. What?! They ARE better in the middle! Right? Right!
We were voted the best shirts in all of Carman Hall that year. Not one of those skinny little freshmen would have ever come up with that design!
(Speaking of design, note to college administrators: not such a good idea to put your freshmen as far as possible from classes as you can...especially when they haven't yet developed the habit of getting up and going to class, and if they have to walk across a 2-block wide "tundra" in winter, and if there is a tower of kids of the opposite sex an elevator ride away. I'm just saying.)
Thursday, December 4, 2008
One Too Many for This Gal!
By now, you've probably seen the ad on TV for "fourth meal". I nearly spilled my Diet Pepsi when I saw the ad the first time. Have we really come to the point where we are eating an actual FOURTH MEAL?! Holy crap, Fatman!
Most folks snack during the evening. Heck, that's one of the ways I managed to pick up all this extra weight again. But I can honestly say that I have never gone out to a restaurant and eaten a fourth meal during the day. Nor have I ever made a fourth meal at home. Have I grazed enough to pack in enough calories to equal that of a meal? I'm sure I have. But if I ate everything in my house, I couldn't get all the fat grams that I'd get in one meal in a fast-food restaurant. (I know, calories are calories in the end!)
I think there needs to be some truth in advertising here. If a restaurant is going to advocate going out for a fourth meal, they should have the folks in the ads look like people who eat four meals a day - not like people who don't even finish their first meal of the day. There should be a group of pre-Subway Jared size people eating their taco and nacho fourth meal.
So, how 'bout it? I'm taking a pledge to pass on "fourth meal" - and to get serious about limiting my evening snacks so that the calories don't even add up to a quarter of a fourth meal. What about you?
Most folks snack during the evening. Heck, that's one of the ways I managed to pick up all this extra weight again. But I can honestly say that I have never gone out to a restaurant and eaten a fourth meal during the day. Nor have I ever made a fourth meal at home. Have I grazed enough to pack in enough calories to equal that of a meal? I'm sure I have. But if I ate everything in my house, I couldn't get all the fat grams that I'd get in one meal in a fast-food restaurant. (I know, calories are calories in the end!)
I think there needs to be some truth in advertising here. If a restaurant is going to advocate going out for a fourth meal, they should have the folks in the ads look like people who eat four meals a day - not like people who don't even finish their first meal of the day. There should be a group of pre-Subway Jared size people eating their taco and nacho fourth meal.
So, how 'bout it? I'm taking a pledge to pass on "fourth meal" - and to get serious about limiting my evening snacks so that the calories don't even add up to a quarter of a fourth meal. What about you?
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