Trans Fat

"High cholestrol?"
"What?"
"Me?"
"Yes, you.." said the doctor as he sailed the news, smoothly over his desk.
"How high is it?"
"It's high."
I sat back into the chair, and started a mental replay of all the junk I eat while I'm out running around in my car during the week. Hmmm. Yesterday a co-worker and I devoured a box of Krispy Creme doughnuts in less than 3 miles. Later that afternoon, a bag of chips and a Dr. Pepper for lunch. This can't be good. Business lunches mean usually a burger and fries, plus last week we went to the local diner twice to eat breakfast at 12 noon. That means bacon and eggs - both times.
My heart, and my head, sink.
I turned my head to Marci for some sympathy, and all I get is cold stare followed by a look that plainly says, "You idiot."
Well, that was a quiet ride home, folks. All I wanted to do was yell out "Are you kidding me!"
The kind of yell you save for when someone pulls out in front of you.
Apparently, my cholesterol just pulled out in front of me.

So my new diet consists of everything I don't want to eat. Which includes severe restrictions on sugar, fattening food, soda, sodium, potato chips, krispy kreme's, and worst of all bacon and eggs. I feel like I am on some sort of 1943 war time rationing. And the only war I am fighting is against some little chemical called "cholesterol."

I sat down for a business lunch last week and looked at the menu thinking, "I can't have that, that, this or any of this, no, no, not that. I told the waitress to just bring me a chicken wrap, and "go easy on the salt."

I called my friend Mike, who has the same problem, perhaps to see if I could get some sympathy. His answer, "You're screwed."

Grocery shopping is much more fun these days too. I guess that they put that little label on there for good reason. Not all is lost however, I have already dropped a few pounds from my once slowly expanding midsection. I feel better, and I don't seem to suffer any more from sugar highs and the impending crash shortly after. I eat tangerines, and yogurt like crazy now (and yes, it's low fat yogurt.)
The other good news (I am being told) is that I caught this early enough to deal with it.

I still miss the eggs and bacon though.....

American Heart Association

Old Friends

This weekend marked the annual Maynard and Friends "retreat" and it was the first year that Sean and I were able to attend. My cousin Daryl (a.k.a Maynard, not that interesting of a story really) has been organizing this little get together for the past 5 years or so. A crew of old friends from the big town of Chambersburg get together at Cove Valley Camp for a weekend of relaxation, hiking, boating, fishing, running after a passel of kiddos, eating and reminiscing. I subjected Sean to this crowd and he thoroughly enjoyed himself. I haven't seen some of these folks for quite a few years, so it was fantastic to catch up with them.

So, thanks, Old Friends, for a great time. Daryl, put us on the list for next year.

Enjoy the photos (mostly of the cute kids). . . Cove Valley Photos

Springtime

Spring is almost here.
We made it.
This winter officially goes down as one of the wettest, and windiest on record.
I'm glad its almost over. It seemed like every morning, the few steps I would take to get from our backdoor to the garage were greeted by icy cold, sharp, and stinging winds.
The kind of wind that just sucks all the warmth from your body. The kind of wind that makes you dread getting out of you nice warm car, to fill up the tank.
I've watched those warnings over and over on TV where they warn you not to get back in the car, lest the static electricity you create when returning to the pump handle could ignite and start your vehicle, and your person on fire. My answer to that? The same as everyone else at the gas station.
Screw it.
It is freezing out here, and the car is warm inside. I guess a cold winter makes me want to live on the edge of life. How invigorating.

Marci's plants are starting to emerge from the frozen tundra we now call our yard. They look nice outside. The daffodils are going to look lovely when they bloom. Our lawn is waking up from a deep slumber, just like when you wake up on a saturday morning at 8:30 and lazily stretch yourself out of bed. I can't wait to start mowing again. Marci thinks I am mad. Just for fun yesterday I pulled my mower from its dark, dormant corner in the garage and fired it up. A few pulls of the old rope and she sprung to life, as if it had been waiting all winter for my return. The grassy smell of the engine whirring brought a smile to my face (it also made my clothes stink like fumes)
I have had the Tru-Green guys pre-treat the grass for weeds. Last year, they were the bane of my existence. This year, they are all going to die.
I bought in the professionals this time. "Weed B Gone" be gone with you. Last year you did nothing for me. This year, I shall be crowned "King of the Lawn"

On Tuesday the weather tricked me into thinking I could bring my nice grill out onto the patio.
So I rolled it out, cleaned it up and positioned it in its place, ready to cook.
Two hours later, a 20 knot wind kicked up, and I was sitting at our kitchen table when I saw it rolling across the cement outside, followed by a mighty crash.
That ended up with some very special language, and a nice dent in the metal.
I can fix it, but still...

Sean's American Idol predictions:
1: The winner is going to be either David Cook, or David Archuletta
2: The final three will be those two, and the irish chick.
3: Kristy Lee Cook is going home very soon - she may be easy on the eyes, but her voice cant get any better.
4: Jason Castro is cool, but he has an average voice, he wont be around too much longer
5: The hippie girl (Brook) is going to have to step up her game if she wants to get any further
6: Watch out for Sayeesha (is that how you spell her name) She can really sing, and she looks like a star. However if she tries to sing another Whitney Houston song, its all over. This goes against cardinal rule #1 for American Idol: NEVER ATTEMPT TO SING A WHITNEY HOUSTON SONG. You will always be compared to one of the best singers that ever lived, and you will never sing as well as her.
For that matter - don't attempt any of Celine's songs as well.
7: Simon will continue to be arrogant, but right 97% of the time.
8: Paula will continue to attend the space cadet academy, and live on planet Paula.
9: Randy will continue to tell everyone who he has "worked with" in the industry.

Anyway,
Feel free to add your predictions in the comment section.

Sean.