I Walk In This World

On my commute home Monday, I decided to snap pics.  I do not have a nice commute.  NJ is the most congested state in the Union…By Far.  This is what most of my drive home is like:

More cars.

The circle where I got hit last weekend.

Getting a little better.

At last…home sweet home!

Din last night was one of our household faves…crockpot curried lentils.  Hubz ate his with jasmine rice.  I had a brown rice but tried to keep my focus on the loveliness of the lentils instead.

• curried lentils + green beans + peppers + mushrooms on a bed of spinach
• half a piece of whole wheat Naan with yogurt butter
• brown rice
• water

Is it a little crazy that I am over the moon with this meal?! 

I’m finally healthy enough to squeeze some exercise into my life again.  I was curious to see if my WO clothing even fit anymore.  I know it’s only been 2 weeks away, but I feel like it’s been AGES.  So I decided to take the sleasy route and heave-ho onto the elliptical.  Just a mere 20mins since my ankle is still healing.  Complimented by curls, dips, pushups etc.

Since I’m badass, it really only makes sense that while my Civic is getting her booty put back together at the repair shop, my rental car would be…

Slammin. 

Since Monday normally = sucktastic, I was suprised that work actually moved along at a nice and sane pace for moi.  Later in the day I had this….

• blueberry OIKOS!

Lunch on top of Mr. Stripey…

• whole wheat + Applegate Farms ham + 1 slice of American + romaine + honey dijon
• babied carrots
• ginorm stawberries likely suffering from growth-hormone enduced enlargement (cry)
• Musselman’s raspberry acai applesauce

At our staff meeting this morning it was announced that it’s still uncertain whether or not we will be taking unpaid work days during Fiscal Year 2010.  That starts Jul 1.  We should know soon.  I don’t expect good news.

Breks was a total rush job, per my usual pace.

• teeny bowl of Nature’s Path pumpkin raisin crunch + handful of TJs cinnamon squares + skim milk
• peach + banana smoothie (ice, yogurt, peaches, half a banana)

That Breks kept me full til 12:30pm.  Usually I need a mid-morning snick or a coffee to tide me over. 

Su-Wheet.

Ah, I am in SUCH a rush.  This will be short on text.  We’re minutes from heading out the door for a weekend-of-family.  First stop…Pittsburgh for the in-laws then back home to Hanover, PA to visit Dad and his wife.  It’ll be hectic but fun cuz we (luckily) both really like our families and in-laws!

Lunch was great.  I ate it while watching tivo’d epis of Real Housewives of NJ.  Um.  I’m kinda hooked.  Total trash tv that is fun for summertime relaxing.

• ginorm salad ala Erin (this means it has goat cheese)
• last remnants of bbq chicken + white beans on whole grain bread

I’ve spent the day exploring ways to find an additional source of income.  I’m a gov’t employee, and today was my first of who-knows-how-many-are-to-come furlough days.  This is a day where I don’t go to work and DON’T get paid either.  It’s an “effort” to trim NJ’s state budget.  It’s beyond laughable.  We’re $2.3 billion in the hole and today’s furlough is saving the state $8mil.  It’s peanuts, yet us middle class workers suffer.

*steps off soapbox only due to lack of time to rant*

Breks was AMAZING!  We’re out of fruit b/c we’re going away for the weekend.  But I remembered I had frozen peaches.  Introducing waffles with buttery peaches!

• Nature’s Path red berry waffles + peaches sauteed in a little butter and honey
• coffee

Hey, this knocked my proverbial socks off.  Totally amazing and a keeper for my recipe book.  Since I slept 9 hours (wee!!) I didn’t need much coffee.

Last night we had turkey fajitas.  I ended up sauteeing portabellas, white beans, corn, peppers, onions, and turkey all together, and topping with avocado and spinach.  It was good but woulda been better sans turkey.  I’ve discovered I don’t like ground turkey!

But to make up for it, I got to sample some of Mallory’s AMAZING FANTASTIC nut butter cups.  I won these from the Auction/Bake Sale I hosted.  Srsly, girl.  Sell these IRL b/c they are so flipping good.

Sorry so short, but I promise to blog from the road.

Ciao!!

Er

**heebie jeebies**

Hi kids.  I just got back from my afternoon walk in the warmth + sun.  And I swear I have an inchworm crawling around in my hair.  I’ve dug all thru my head and there’s nothing there (heh), but I could SWEAR I feel creepies crawling up there.  Do you ever get that feeling?

**shudder**

Here’s a little pretty from my walk…

Lunch was FAR less healthy than yesterday and light years more fun to eat.

On Mr. Stripey…

• Whole grain roll with curried free range chicken salad
• eleventy billion red raspberries
• trail mix mess
• some of that dark chocolate

I don’t want anyone to ask me what either the free range chicken salad NOR what the organic raspberries cost.   I won’t tell. 

cha-CHING.

In local news, NJ’s governor released another round of budget cuts to state programs, agencies, and departments.  It’s not good here kids, I won’t lie.  Everyone keep their fingers crossed that Erin’s job says solvent please.

I’m heading home soon to assemble more furniture, walk the dog, have a beer and whatever else the evening brings.

What are y’all up to?

Morning kids.

Your very last GIVEAWAY Reminder!  The contest ends tonight at 8pm EST.

Ack…LOST!  I won’t reveal any spoilers for you slow pokes who haven’t watched it yet (ahem).  I will just state that I am still reeling.  What the dickens I going to do without this show for the next nine months?! 

Breks this morning was a total rush job, but still good.

Piled together with my work gear…

• whole wheat mini bagel with fried eggwhites + peppers/mush/kale + swiss + 1 slice Applegate Farm ham + HOT sauce
• COFFEE
• kiddie vitamin (grown up ones make me sick)

I did eat this in my car, yes.  But.  I made it to work On Time.

Pre-LOST last night, the hubz and I spent an hour assembling ONE of our new night stands.  Thank god for him b/c I am completely incompetent at  understanding complex manual assemblage instructions.  My sister inherited those genes.  I did not.  All I ever manage to do is screw things together and hold things straight for the hubz to assemble.  I’m a good helper. 

Din was outstanding and 1 of my fav recipes.

At the table…

• crockpot creamy buffalo & white bean chicken over wild rice
• tossed spinach salad with cukes + carrots + maters + avocado + goat cheese + cranberries + almonds + lf rasp/walnut dressing
• water

Din was H-O-T but so SO good.  Definitely “more-ish” as the husband says. 

During dinner Hubz and I caught up on our lives.  We do so many extra curricular things, that dinner time is our catch up time.  Yesterday he had breakfast with the Independent candidate running for NJ Governor this year.  It was a very successful meeting and I’m excited at what’s to come. 

Are there any interesting political races in your neck of the woods this year?

Bizzy bees need to work now.