Cuban Cuisine Research

I think Eric and I are going to check out a Cuban restaurant in Cary tonight (he doesn't know this yet). I need to start on my research for the upcoming menu. This past May, Dan and Randee and their friends Jav and Maria were in NC for a visit. Being hardcore foodies that they are, they scoped out the Taste of Durham, an outdoor food festival. Of course, we were game.

While we were there, there were so many choices. I think it was Dan or Maria that got a Cuban sandwich from a stand run by a restaurant near the airport. When I took a bite, that had to be the best sandwich I have ever put in my mouth. Even Jav said that he was a great sandwich, and he certainly has the exposure to real Cuban food in NYC.

Week 2 Report

Well, after a gangbuster start on the weight loss, I have fatlined...I mean flatlined. No weight loss this week, but need to get it together and get back at it!

Murder in Town Hall

Murder in Town Hall is coming together conceptually, at least in my head. I thought I would take a nice writing trip somewhere, but think I may scale that back a bit and still go somewhere, but stay near home. I like to go to college towns, because I can camp out in the library at the college and do my research and writing. I love my husband and three doggies, but I can't get a thing done while I am here.

In the past, I have visited UNC and NC State, but my favorite was Belmont Abbey College just west of Charlotte. It is a very small Catholic college with an active monestary on site. Very small, very quiet. I may head there for my first research trip for Murder in Town Hall.

Happy Birthday Emma and Ryan!

It is my niece Emma's 2nd birthday, and my nephew Ryan's 8th birthday. Eric and I have two nephews and one niece, and two have the same birthday. Easy to keep track of!

I hope they both have wonderful days!

Inauguration

What a great day! That pesky work thing...I could have spent all day watching inauguration events. I thought it was a great day. I was actually at George W. Bush's first inauguration in 2001, and it was nothing like what I experienced yesterday.

My heart pounded during the inaugural address, and every time they panned to the crowd, I nearly cried. Yea for the U.S. of A.

President Obama

You didn't think this blog was strictly about weight loss and food did you?

I am very excited to see the inauguration on Tuesday, and for a new breath of fresh air in this country. I am kind of a junkie when it comes to this stuff anyway. I watched hours of footage about 9-11, all of Ronald Reagan's funeral, Pope John Paul's funeral, etc.

Unfortunately, I'll be at work on Tuesday. Fortunately, we have a 42" plasma TV mounted to the wall of our conference room/lunch room. I'll be tuning in as much as I can and still getting some work done.

Week 1 report

Well, week one is complete and I have lost 5.2 pounds so far. Although I doubt I can keep that pace up, it is at least a good start. Just to show how pathetic I am, I made a nice dinner last Thursday night: chicken parmesan bites, angel hair pasta, and a salad. Eric and I enjoyed it, but later on, we were hungry. Instead of grabbing something to eat, we went to bed. We laid there for the next 30 minutes talking about what we would eat if we could have anything at that moment. This led to a discussion about the best hamburger in town and who had the best french fries.

We still didn't get up and have anything to eat, so I guess that is good!

New Year, New Me

Well, as 2009 begins, so does yet another diet, or shall I say, "lifestyle change". I joined a weight loss challenge at work that runs for the next 16 weeks. The person with the highest percentage of weight loss wins. For me, that is a lot of weight!

I am going to give it my best shot. My reward, aside from the weight loss, is a share of the "pot" of money folks pay to join and pay if they gain weight. I have decided that if I in fact do win, I am going to take a writing trip somewhere as I develop my next book. Great incentive.

Wish me luck!