OK, so as most of you know, this week has been wrought with tough decisions and diagnoses. And my initial response is always to internalize stress...which results in super achy-ness and supreme tiredness.
So I decided to go to bed at 9pm, immediately following the all new What Not To Wear.
But that means that I am now up at 4:32am, checking the internet instead of sleeping. Arg.
Also, Jeff took new delivery of his computer Friday morning and I think stayed up really late last night playing with it (I think this because I am working on the new computer and noticing tons of our stuff has been transferred over!! Thanks honey.)
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
Whatsa?
I am glad it can be fixed with a pill! Thank goodness for preventative annual physicals (and that I take advantage of them)...this is still reversible.
Insulin resistance: the condition in which normal amounts of insulin are inadequate to produce a normal insulin response from fat, muscle, and liver cells.
Symptoms of IR
Fatigue.
Brain fogginess and inability to focus. Sometimes the fatigue is physical, but often it is mental.
High blood sugar.
Intestinal bloating. Most intestinal gas is produced from carbohydrates in the diet.
Sleepiness. Many people with insulin resistance get sleepy immediately after eating a meal containing more than 20% or 30% carbohydrates.
Weight gain, fat storage, difficulty losing weight. For most people, too much weight is too much fat. The fat in IR is generally stored in and around abdominal organs in both males and females. Increased blood triglyceride levels.
Increased blood pressure.
Insulin resistance: the condition in which normal amounts of insulin are inadequate to produce a normal insulin response from fat, muscle, and liver cells.
Symptoms of IR
Fatigue.
Brain fogginess and inability to focus. Sometimes the fatigue is physical, but often it is mental.
High blood sugar.
Intestinal bloating. Most intestinal gas is produced from carbohydrates in the diet.
Sleepiness. Many people with insulin resistance get sleepy immediately after eating a meal containing more than 20% or 30% carbohydrates.
Weight gain, fat storage, difficulty losing weight. For most people, too much weight is too much fat. The fat in IR is generally stored in and around abdominal organs in both males and females. Increased blood triglyceride levels.
Increased blood pressure.
Tuesday, January 6, 2009
New Year's Eve
A shout out to our friends Mary and Dustin for hosting this year's NYE party! We had a blast hanging out, looking at fish tanks, watching their pet birds, and playing Texas Hold 'Em.
Jeff made it down to the last 2 people - and went all in at 1am (I think he was ready to turn in). He lost it all...but it was just for fun so it turned out ok!
Jeff made it down to the last 2 people - and went all in at 1am (I think he was ready to turn in). He lost it all...but it was just for fun so it turned out ok!
Christmas with the Hartmans
After our vacation, Jeff and I traveled to Sioux Falls (by car) to spend Dec 24-28 with his family. It was very special - our nephews stayed overnight with grandma and grandpa (and mom and dad) so we got to see the wonder on a 2 year old's face when he opened his stocking, and saw what Santa brought him. Baby Ben of course loved the paper and the boxes.
We spent most of Christmas day opening gifts, laughing, and eating (what else do you do?). A ton of the rest of our vacation was spend just hanging out, and cat napping when appropriate (always).
The highlight of the holiday was the annual Who 'Da Man Tournament. This year it was expanded from a ping pong only tournament, and now ALSO included Wii Bowling, and Dunk the Duck (a super sweet carnival game Lois brought for the family). We had a Round Robin tournament, complete with loser's brackets and everything...and I am proud to say I won the Wii Bowling tournament after a tough double elimination battle with Lois!!!!
We spent most of Christmas day opening gifts, laughing, and eating (what else do you do?). A ton of the rest of our vacation was spend just hanging out, and cat napping when appropriate (always).
The highlight of the holiday was the annual Who 'Da Man Tournament. This year it was expanded from a ping pong only tournament, and now ALSO included Wii Bowling, and Dunk the Duck (a super sweet carnival game Lois brought for the family). We had a Round Robin tournament, complete with loser's brackets and everything...and I am proud to say I won the Wii Bowling tournament after a tough double elimination battle with Lois!!!!
Monday, January 5, 2009
New Orleans - Sun
Our last day :( and it was only 50 degrees, a far cry from the 80+ of the previous 3 days.
We met up with another hunter and his family and had a traditional New Orleans jazz brunch at Brennan's, including mimosas and bloody marys. And of course, how could you forget to put fish into breakfast and still make it delish? It WAS!
We listened to the live jazz in the beautifully restored building and were seated on the top floor. Our total experience lasted almost 2 hours, and it was totally worth it.
After that, our group walked in the French Quarter and sat down at the Royal Sonesta to take in the beautiful hotel, have some coffee and hot tea, and watch the football game on tv. We were enjoying our company, and killing time, before we had to head back to the airport.
We went back to the airport with the knowledge the flight was full and were just hoping that someone wouldn't show up. By some miracle, we all FIVE got on and back happy but tired on Sunday night!
We met up with another hunter and his family and had a traditional New Orleans jazz brunch at Brennan's, including mimosas and bloody marys. And of course, how could you forget to put fish into breakfast and still make it delish? It WAS!
We listened to the live jazz in the beautifully restored building and were seated on the top floor. Our total experience lasted almost 2 hours, and it was totally worth it.
After that, our group walked in the French Quarter and sat down at the Royal Sonesta to take in the beautiful hotel, have some coffee and hot tea, and watch the football game on tv. We were enjoying our company, and killing time, before we had to head back to the airport.
We went back to the airport with the knowledge the flight was full and were just hoping that someone wouldn't show up. By some miracle, we all FIVE got on and back happy but tired on Sunday night!
New Orleans - Sat
On Saturday, we slept in a little (thank god). Breakfast at Starbucks at the hotel at 9am. Mom called over and when no one answered (showering and blow drying the hair made it noisy) she decided to go back to bed - as she assumed we had. Not so! We were ready to hit the town again.
We walked down to the end of Canal Street and hopped on the Trolley car and rode along the riverfront. It was beautiful! I wish we could have ridden the trolley more - you really got to see a lot as it was an old-school, open air type.
At the end of the trolley ride, we got out and went shopping at the French Market - an open air market hawking sunglasses, Mardi Gras masks, knockoff purses, jewelry, wallets, tons of stuff...Dad scored a new eel wallet and dickered a good deal for it.
We took a break and escaped the rain (yes it actually rained and was not just humid) by listening to a jazz band at the end of the market. Amy had her heart set on visiting where the locals hang out, on Frenchman street.
We walked through a bunch of housing apartments to get to someplace for lunch. We came across a place called The Praline Connection and it was WONDERFUL! It took a long time, but fried pickles, catfish, etouffe, and shrimp later it didn't matter. We also picked up some pralines for later.
We decided to walk back towards the hotel, browswing along the way. Mom and Amy wanted to go back to the voodoo priest and have their Tarot cards read, so they called to make an appointment in the afternoon. As we headed that way, we experienced some of the people watching, shopping, and snacks of the French Quarter.
While Amy and Mom were at the witch doctor, Jeff, Dad, and I decided to rest for a bit, and then go to a New Orleans Hornets basketball game. We waited in line for about 45 minutes. Actually, Jeff waited in line, while Dad and I took the tickets we bought off the street and went to the beer garden (2 free beers each, outside. You drink anywhere outside.). They also had dancing Christmas trees, a live band, and little pot shot games outside. It was so fun! What a nice change after the Timberwolves - a) the team actually played good BB and b) the entertainment was so great! Every timeout or break something was going on in the crowd, giveaways, music, competitions.
After the game, we met up with Mom and Amy and decided to go for a late dinner at a dive just off of Bourbon Street. The place was called Oceana's and oh my, all though it looked like nothing from the outside, the food was freaking fantastic (are you noticing a theme?). I had a salad - my first vegetable of the weekend - and oysters and shrimp were also on deck. A quick stroll down Bourbon Street and mom, dad, and Amy went to see Steamboat Willie play jazz. Jeff and I were tired and went back to the hotel to just hang.
We walked down to the end of Canal Street and hopped on the Trolley car and rode along the riverfront. It was beautiful! I wish we could have ridden the trolley more - you really got to see a lot as it was an old-school, open air type.
At the end of the trolley ride, we got out and went shopping at the French Market - an open air market hawking sunglasses, Mardi Gras masks, knockoff purses, jewelry, wallets, tons of stuff...Dad scored a new eel wallet and dickered a good deal for it.
We took a break and escaped the rain (yes it actually rained and was not just humid) by listening to a jazz band at the end of the market. Amy had her heart set on visiting where the locals hang out, on Frenchman street.
We walked through a bunch of housing apartments to get to someplace for lunch. We came across a place called The Praline Connection and it was WONDERFUL! It took a long time, but fried pickles, catfish, etouffe, and shrimp later it didn't matter. We also picked up some pralines for later.
We decided to walk back towards the hotel, browswing along the way. Mom and Amy wanted to go back to the voodoo priest and have their Tarot cards read, so they called to make an appointment in the afternoon. As we headed that way, we experienced some of the people watching, shopping, and snacks of the French Quarter.
While Amy and Mom were at the witch doctor, Jeff, Dad, and I decided to rest for a bit, and then go to a New Orleans Hornets basketball game. We waited in line for about 45 minutes. Actually, Jeff waited in line, while Dad and I took the tickets we bought off the street and went to the beer garden (2 free beers each, outside. You drink anywhere outside.). They also had dancing Christmas trees, a live band, and little pot shot games outside. It was so fun! What a nice change after the Timberwolves - a) the team actually played good BB and b) the entertainment was so great! Every timeout or break something was going on in the crowd, giveaways, music, competitions.
After the game, we met up with Mom and Amy and decided to go for a late dinner at a dive just off of Bourbon Street. The place was called Oceana's and oh my, all though it looked like nothing from the outside, the food was freaking fantastic (are you noticing a theme?). I had a salad - my first vegetable of the weekend - and oysters and shrimp were also on deck. A quick stroll down Bourbon Street and mom, dad, and Amy went to see Steamboat Willie play jazz. Jeff and I were tired and went back to the hotel to just hang.
Saturday, January 3, 2009
New Orleans - Fri
Ok, so armed with information for the Gray Line Bus Tour, we agreed to meet IN THE LOBBY at 8:30am. To ensure we can get on a bus tour by 9:30am. Let me assure you, New Orleans does not run on Randy time (aka party until the wee hours and still get up at 7am). We couldn't find a place for a quick breakfast. But no matter, turns out they have cancelled all the tours that day until 2pm. So we will find something else to do!...
- Breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, including cafe au lait and bignettes (which in my opnion taste a lot like funnel cake, but acceptable for breakfast)
- Shopping: Harley Davidson store (of course), tourist store for sunglasses for Dad, a ladies' store where I got a beautiful bejeweled compact, and other artsy stores
- Mule-drawn carriage tour through the French Quarter, narrated by a tough-talking lady who gave the finger to a car that honked at us
- Lunch at a diner where the burgers are cooked under hubcaps
- Watching the cargo ships and barges on the mighty Mississippi; dad got his shoes shined by a transient
- Dinner at Deanies with one of Dad's hunters and his wife that are from Louisiana. Amy won the honor of ordering BBQ shrimp and having a bib placed on her by the waiter
- Bourbon St (again. of course.), most of it spend at Pat O'Brien's, home of the original Hurricane Drink. It is delicious, fruity, red. And 4 shots of rum. Let it be declared from now on "pulling a Jeff" is when you look at your drink, it is 7/8 gone. And everyone else has about 1/8 gone. And the nice waitress rubs your back gently and says, "you like that, don't you honey?".
- Stumble back from Bourbon St about midnight. Amy, Jeff, and I are not quite ready to turn in, so we go out to continue the party around 12:45am. Let me tell you, a different kind of folk appeared in those 45 minutes. We walked a couple blocks, decided we did NOT need a pimp or a ho, and thought it best to get back to the hotel. Sleepy time!
- Breakfast at Cafe Du Monde, including cafe au lait and bignettes (which in my opnion taste a lot like funnel cake, but acceptable for breakfast)
- Shopping: Harley Davidson store (of course), tourist store for sunglasses for Dad, a ladies' store where I got a beautiful bejeweled compact, and other artsy stores
- Mule-drawn carriage tour through the French Quarter, narrated by a tough-talking lady who gave the finger to a car that honked at us
- Lunch at a diner where the burgers are cooked under hubcaps
- Finally, the BUS TOUR! We saw all the historical haunts in the French Quarter, where the Louisiana Purchase was signed, some Katrina areas still with damage, levees and canals, the above ground cemetaries (and walked around), the historic homes, the business district...a ton of things over the course of 2 hours (and about a 10 minute nap. I was Tired.)
- Shopping in the French Quarter, including a real perfumery (mmmmm), art galleries, drinking at the oldest bar in America, and meeting a witch doctor / vodoo priest- Watching the cargo ships and barges on the mighty Mississippi; dad got his shoes shined by a transient
- Dinner at Deanies with one of Dad's hunters and his wife that are from Louisiana. Amy won the honor of ordering BBQ shrimp and having a bib placed on her by the waiter
- Bourbon St (again. of course.), most of it spend at Pat O'Brien's, home of the original Hurricane Drink. It is delicious, fruity, red. And 4 shots of rum. Let it be declared from now on "pulling a Jeff" is when you look at your drink, it is 7/8 gone. And everyone else has about 1/8 gone. And the nice waitress rubs your back gently and says, "you like that, don't you honey?".
- Stumble back from Bourbon St about midnight. Amy, Jeff, and I are not quite ready to turn in, so we go out to continue the party around 12:45am. Let me tell you, a different kind of folk appeared in those 45 minutes. We walked a couple blocks, decided we did NOT need a pimp or a ho, and thought it best to get back to the hotel. Sleepy time!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)