So little to do, so much time

This is my mantra when I am faced with many things to do. Everyone else says, "So much to do, so little time." Thinking that way is way too depressing for me. When I say it the opposite way I immediately calm down. I actually love the list of things to do, too, so why get depressed just because I can't do them all in one day?

Thirteen pounds and counting. The weight loss was definitely more dramatic in the first week. Now it's slower but definitely steady. Still no cravings. I do notice a slightly heightened interest in foods not allowed, however. Not at danger level, good!

Here are a couple of pictures I took on a walk yesterday. The poppies are from a neighbor's garden and the other, with the railroad track, is low tide at the southernmost tip of Puget Sound. (will post poppies later...blogger program just hiccuped.)

Hey....I've learned to Skype. Anyone want to try it with me? It's easier than the gmail video chat #@%^% and very fun.

Alrighty then

There's nothing that reminds you that you're getting older than spending half a day sorting out the how's and what's of Medicare and then later signing up for a retirement check. In my head I'm twenty so those things sound like they belong in the realm of the ancients. Maybe that's why I've been putting off thinking about it. I just don't feel ancient yet.

These things take some getting used to. Like for Medicare, it looks like I have to pick out a Medicare doctor? What happens if I don't? They don't cover me? Or am I OK because I'm going to keep my state retirement health plan? I'll check into that next week. At least I've found that if I keep looking the answers eventually appear on some web page. Because I often forget where I found something important, today I copied every tidbit as I went along, and copied them into a Medicare document on my desktop. Right now it feels like a bit of overkill but my experience tells me I did the right thing.

Oh, I haven't kept up on the diet progress. It's still great. Except, confession: I am starting to think about s'mores, cake, cookies, potato chips. Crap. I mean "crap" as an expletive, am not implying at all that those foods are crap. Quite the opposite.

But really, I did kind of have to go off the diet last weekend due to lack of planning and being at a party without my own food. I only lost a day, in that I gained a pound back the next day, and then it was back to dropping. It's not as dramatic as in the first week, but I don't really mind. I'm so comfortable with this way of eating that I fully expect to happily do another round of shots (which comes about 6 weeks after the first round ends, if I remember correctly.)

Lara's coming to spend the night in a couple of hours. She's bringing an easel for me. I plan to begin painting. She also is going to help me put a floor lamp together but doesn't know it yet!

7th day of hcg diet

Seven point 8 pounds lost after 6 days on the diet. That's 7.8. How can that be? Yay me. Still not hungry nor craving anything. Still love the food. Crazy.

Busy days...I'm blocking out Monday to have some R&R. Really, I have to learn to veg out sometimes. When I moved into my apartment I was 100% expecting to have days where I would do nothing but read. And that I would break out the cobwebby projects. None have happened. Not that it's a bad thing, it's just kind of a surprise. And something I want to do something about.

The apartment is finally reaching it's max capacity for 'stuff.' It seemed like a bottomless pit when it was empty, but it did finally fill up. Now I'm getting a tad depressed that I still don't have room, wherever I live, for my beloved piano. I miss that thing so much. The keyboard I got is a nice enough substitute but is just not not not the same thing. The other things I miss: the hope chest and chow bench that my Mom got before I was even born. They're beautiful. I keep wracking my brain trying to imagine where I could squeeze them in here. Am almost out of options. But, color me optimistic, desire will prevail.

P.S. I just got up and played the keyboard. It was great. Not nearly as dismal as I made it sound above.

QUESTION FOR READERS:
Am curious, if there is anyone out there reading this post, what you think of family obligations? And family feuds. When is it OK to stop speaking to a family member? Or snub them?

My own thumbnail philosophy, finally adopted after many years of not being conscious of the value of family, is that there is no stronger group one can belong to. In the absence of violence, abuse, and neglect, I believe that this is the group we need to be the most forgiving of and loyal to. Please tell me what you think.

Day 4 = holy moly

Yesterday I was so not hungry that I really couldn't eat the full menus. So it wasn't a big surprise that I went down 2.5 pounds this morning, but still! It feels amazing. Yay for me.

The literature tells me I will plateau but that it will still be working when that happens. I can't explain it very well so won't even try.

Trouble is: I have company coming for dinner. Do I cook for them? Or do I buy them a pizza? Oh, yeah, I know...I was going to get a bunch of deli things for them from the Food Co-op. That'll work. I think that's what I'll do from now on when I have people over. Or if they come for lunch, well...tuna time. What else do I ever give anyone for lunch?

Day 3 continued

OK...I had a great dinner tonight! Tony at Olympia Seafood Company (the freshest best seafood around) suggested sablefish (black cod) as being full of flavor. Which works for me because I kinda have to poach every fr... thing these days. I creatively chopped up some chard in a pan with a touch of water, put bite-size pieces of the fish on top and steamed them til done ... not long. Salt and lemon juice. omg it was so good.

While at OSC I bought some wasabi sesame seeds as a surprise for Mark. I took a tiny taste and have to say that everyone who likes wasabi should be buying this. Perfect blend of little tastes.

Speaking of Mark, I am once again directing you to his and Jenna's blog. Today it's rhubarb pie. The pictures will make you weep. The recipe will send you looking for rhubarb.

Day 3 of hCG

Lost another pound. I really didn't think it would be this easy. I know...things that are easy are bad for you, or something like that. hogwash. This is easy in the sense that I remember (and like) all the choices. There aren't books of food choices with points. Just a few healthy foods. Oh, and lunch and dinner have the same formula of 4 groups of food to choose from. Ie, I don't have to think very much. Hmmm.

Yesterday I did go to Lara's as planned. But! I didn't do anything there that I was supposed to do. Wanted to go shopping for the apartment, get my mother's day present and pick up the easel. We instead went food shopping so I could have lunch and then took naps. However, not all was lost. Lara, it turns out, has a scale that measures grams, which I have been scouring Olympia stores for, to no avail. She is loaning it to me and it sure helps with weighing out my 100 grams of chicken or lobster or whatever. Thanks, Lara!

Oh, here are a couple of pictures from my Nova Scotia trip last year. I've recently started enjoying looking at them again and want to share.

My lunch by the way was amazing: Dungeness crab mixed with cucumber chunks and lime juice. Oh, and a breadstick. I loved it.

Day 1 of the diet

This hCG diet I'm doing is a little controversial but it suits me fine. I've been taking the hCG shots for 3 days without having to do anything different diet-wise, EXCEPT eat lots of fats. The diet supposedly works a lot better if we load up on fats, but from now on they are off-limits. (by the way, don't do this diet unless your doctor has given you the whole regime, including a supply of a month's worth of shots.)

Breakfast is all the tea or coffee I want. Wow. Not very exciting but I'm drinking a pot of tea as we speak.

Lunch is 100 grams of chicken breast (or some specific other meat.) One little breadstick. One apple. Veggie. Only certain proteins and veggies are allowed. I'm off to shop. Oh, and to take all the perishable non-allowed foods to Dan. He'll be happy to get a load of free groceries.