Pink Lady

Pink Lady. A 'new to me' apple that we bought at Costco yesterday. They come in an unusual plastic casing that keeps them from harm, and what beauties they are! I had one for breakfast this morning - very little core, and sweet firm flesh. So good! There is something about fall, and the smell of apples that just makes you feel that life is worth living.

We have been really busy with one thing and another, so this is about as exciting as it gets in the food department this week. It feels good to settle into a rhythm of food shopping, prep and meals that feels so comfortable. I must say I am getting used to having this many "feedings" during the day, and although it is a nuisance sometimes, I like the results!

The weekend will be warm in Winnipeg they say, so we are looking forward to spending a lot of time entertaining on the new deck. Eleven years we have been in this house, and I never felt the need to sit outside as much as we do now! I usually can't wait for the cooler weather, but this year, I have been chilly even on July evenings. Cardigans have become a necessity. What is next? Grey hair that grows in like a poodle's?

Who'd think...

you could eat a hamburger that was soooooooooooo juicy and good, and not go off the rails? Last night, we tried the PC Blue Menu Burgers - get this, as a SNACK! My nearest and dearest forgot to take out the pork tenderloin, so supper was a bit sparse...cheese toast and ministrone soup - it just wasn't enough to keep the grumblies away. On the way home from furniture shopping, we picked up some of these beauties and threw them on the barbecue. They were soooooo good! With a Wonder Bun (may spring for a larger bun next time, as there was sooooooooo much meat and I do love those sesame seeds on the top!) the total points? 7. Yep. 7. A Big Mac is 13, and not nearly as good as this was for just a little over half the points! What amazes me most, is that I had almost enough points to cover this major snack without digging into my weekly Flex points - I ended the day only two points over, easily covered by FLEX points. (I have 29 of those beauties left to burn by next Wednesday morning when a whole new batch is dropped from heaven! )

As life unfolds on this program, I am appreciating more and more that it is a lifestyle change. Never before would I sit down to a burger at nine in the evening, let alone enjoy it without one shred of guilt. Now that is a change you can live with!

Getting out of the house...or not....

It has been an entire week of project after project! The deck skirting is on, a years worth of basil pesto is in the freezer and the garage is now a thing of beauty. There is not a scrap of laundry in sight to be done. I have been chained to the house but I am amazed at my ability to spend money without opening the door!

I really love online shopping! No lines, no hassles...and the best part is, that your purchase is delivered right into your hands. My mail person is a bit miffed about the number of deliveries to our house, but mehhhhh. Deal with it!

Over the years I have discovered that pretty much everything you need in life eventually can be purchased at Costco, or online. The rest goes onto a list to be bought "whenever", which around here, is more like WHEN??? NEVER! I sooooo hate shopping. There are too many choices, and none of them ever seem to be exactly what I want. Usually we end up buying the least offensive thing, and not being happy with it at all. So, my mindset now is, that 'nothing' is better than the 'wrong thing', so I hope that eventually I will find what I want, need, and yes, love. Life is too short to compromise.

Back to the delivery that arrived this morning. It was a tiny wallet that holds all of my credit cards, money and driver's license in the smallest configuration imaginable! I can slip this little number into a pocket, and leave my purse at home. Which, when you think of it, really borders on heresy for a purse fanatic. But the thought of being able to use both hands and save my back was so appealing! As a result, I am ready to shop today - hands free! Maybe it will be more pleasant. In the same package, came a dandy little "Rubba Scrubba" brush...silicone bristles that are purported to dig out dirt like no other! I have a never ending battle with the line between baseboards and carpet, so I am hoping that this recent gift from modern science will help me win at least one battle if not the war! I realise this has absolutely nothing to do with being on program, but it is all part of my general mental health and well being. If you can buy a smile with a wallet and a 'Rubba Scrubba', why not?

Back to food. This morning, I tried the Simply Whites from Costco in a mushroom omelet. Not bad at all. Not appealing to the eye at all though...sort of made me think that Dr. Seuss was inspired to right Green Eggs and Ham after his wife presented him with an egg white mushroom omelet. A sickly greenish hue, possibly from the mushrooms.....but tasty, and so convenient! If you have a flavourful filling, you really don't need the richness of the egg yolks, and it is somewhat kinder on your points to use just the whites. The important part of eggs in the morning for me, is the protein. The bonus? Very little space required to store 32 egg whites in the refrigerator! Two small cartons in a package (contain 16 whites each) were about 3.99 at Costco, as I recall.

So, off we go into the day.

Breakfast: omelet, milk, Prebiotic toast - if you haven't tasted the barley and sunflower, you haven't lived. So worth two points a slice, for more reasons than one! Wink, wink, nudge, nudge. Love that fibre.
Lunch: Top Dogs - Whoo Hoo! Mystery meat! yogurt
Supper: roast pork tenderloin, potatoes, tomatoes, cream-style corn, raspberries & cool whip for dessert
Snacks: plums, orange, Smart Pop Mini,

Thursday - already?

I must say, this hasn't been one of our more exciting vacation weeks.

Yesterday, the man decided to clean and rearrange the garage. So, this morning we have a pile, in the middle of the garage, rather than stacked haphazardly around the perimeter. We will drag everything back out into the driveway, and hopefully sort through it all, to give each 'keeper' it's special space...but so many things have just outworn their welcome, and are just no longer necessary. I noticed that the GT Racer was gone from the curb this morning. When your child is 24, and living miles away, do we really need to keep the super sled from 1987? I don't think he will miss it....or the scooter, or the pool noodles, or the Louisville Slugger baseball bat, or the bright blue bicycle helmet that he hated wearing ....I keep telling my hubby that if we haven't used it in the last couple of years, what are the chances we will ever need it again?And we aren't penniless. We can buy a new whatever! Of course, this goes against every Scottish molecule of his being! We never mention that this may be his way of holding on to his little boy. We can't go there, or the dinosaur cookie cutter may be jeopardized......

Breakfast: All Bran, skim milk
Lunch: Smoked turkey, tomato and cheese sandwich and a diet pop
Supper: potatoes cut into chips coated with 1 T oil (for two!) and oven baked, chicken breast with extra crispy Shake & Bake, mixed veg and beet pickle slices, tea and sympathy
Snacks: Rice Krispie Square, yogurt, pretzels and orange slices

Wednesday Weigh Day

Why does your system always sabotage you on your weigh-in day? Today, swollen water retaining fingers and feet included, I am down another .8 pounds. Better that than nothing! In the grand scheme of things since my plan is to lose at least six pounds a month, I am on "schedule". But again, I reassure myself, that if that is what works for others, why shouldn't it work for me? So, although it is a drop in the bucket, it is a welcomed little drop!

I am beginning to see that a man on holidays without an itinerary is a dangerous thing. Two trips to Home Depot to buy a bit of quarter round for the kitchen door that still isn't the right thickness...sigh. It's exhausting watching those wheels spin!

Breakfast: Prebiotic toast & butter, egg, skim milk (love the effects of that bread, but whew! 2 points for one slice? So, it is an occasional gift to the 'system' wink, wink, nudge, nudge)
Lunch: Whole wheat tortilla 'pizza' with turkey pepperoni, mushrooms, pesto, peppers
Supper: lamb chops, potatoes, green beans, raspberries and cool whip for dessert.
Snacks: Nectarine, plum, oranges, rice crackers and red pepper dip

The SCALE...

showed my first ten pound loss on this program! Whoo HOOOO! I was beginning to think that it had stalled forever, but nope! It really did move for me this morning. It is so incredibly hard for me to believe that you can eat so well, and actually lose weight. This really does work! Today I am going to order that "Tiffany Inspired" silver bracelet I have been eyeing on the web. I want something really meaningful engraved on it, so I asked for suggestions on the WW board, and some pretty good ideas came up. "Keep Going Fat Arse" tickled my funnybone and has the right sentiment, but I wouldn't feel completely comfortable wearing it in all situations!

It is another day in Pointville!

Breakfast: Sprouted Wheat toast & butter, peanut butter, 2 eggs, milk

Lunch: 9 oz baked potato and 1/2 cup cottage cheese, green beans

Supper: Ravioli with tomato sauce, 2 oz lean steak, Caesar salad - raspberries and topping for dessert

Snacks: 1 turkey pepperoni, 1 Laughing Cow cheese and 2 multiseed Susie's Flatbread, V8

Yesterday's major achievement was going only three points over for the week. Pretty hard to do when you start the day 14 points in the hole! I am determined to keep below my basic point range for the next two days until Wednesday's weigh in - is there any possible way I can call this being on the Wendy plan? I am reminding myself 'Slow and steady' and 'Write what you bite' . This is the first time in five weeks that I haven't kept exactly on target, and I really resent the fact that I had to eat an extra meal just to stay conscious in the middle of the night!

Today I am going back to my old way of eating that doesn't involve a lot of things from packages. So, today the menu plan is:

Breakfast: 2 pieces sprouted wheat toast, 2 tsp butter, 1 T peanut butter, 1 egg, milk
Lunch: Flax Wrap with reheated steak strips, shreds of cheese, lettuce, salsa, grilled peppers, mushrooms, celery and onions from last night

Supper: Baked cod, cheesy scalloped potatoes, green beans and a side salad - baked apples fresh from my friends tree for dessert!

Snack: 1/2 a Tortilla pizza made with red pepper, turkey pepperoni, basil pesto as a base, and Tex Mex Cheese topping.

Food to Go

My digestive system has never allowed me to eat in restaurants for extended periods of time without rebelling in one way or another (wink, wink, nudge, nudge, know what I mean?) so there has always been a reason to limit our restaurant visits while travelling. Following the WW program shouldn't pose too much of a problem while we are away - as long as I can get to a computer to tally up points for the day, it should work out just fine. After five weeks on the program, I have a pretty good idea what I can eat, and how often!

However, in anticipation of our holidays, I am making a list of "Hotel Foods" - basic ideas for foods that will keep us on program while away from our own kitchen. We always try to get a room with a kitchenette or at the very least a frig, micro and coffee maker. We also carry the basic utensils in our trusty cooler bag. This list consists of a sharp knife, can opener, cutting board, micro safe cups, plates, knives, cutlery, tea, coffee, salt & pepper, condiments. And of course paper towels and lots of bottled water. (See sentence #1 of this post!)

It is interesting to shop at different markets wherever we may be, picking fresh foods for the day depending on our whims. Strawberries in Charlottetown, lettuce in Seattle, fudge in Edinbourgh and mushrooms in Vancouver are as memorable as the places themselves! We vary eating one meal a day out - over the course of the weekend, we will usually eat lunch out the first day, supper the second day, and breakfast the third day. Or not! To tell you the truth, when you look at the points involved in eating out, it is like walking into a mine field, so we just may try to enjoy our "room food" rather than blowing the points out of the water! Keeping things loose is part of the fun of holidaying, but staying well enough to enjoy it is most important of all . I don't anticipate much change in our travel menu. Here is a mix of the usual items we depend on - if you have any suggestions I really would appreciate your input!

All Bran cereal with skim milk
Rotisserie Chicken - bag salad - low cal dressing (the chicken easily stretches for a full supper, a bagged lunch and hubby's snack attacks while watching Nick at Night south of the border!)
Low Cal bread for sandwiches (sliced lean meat or tomato are simple but tasty)
Canned soup & Triscuits heated with cheese in the micro
Bush's Beans
Microwaved potatoes with cottage cheese
Fresh berries or canned peaches mixed with cottage cheese
Cauliflower, baby carrots, snap peas to dip in the low cal dressing
Sliced oranges, apples, grapes, bananas & pretzels for TV snackage
Yogurt

Wednesday

What is it about the middle of the week? I was going in all directions all at once! It isn't a good thing for me to be on my own, as I really don't bother cooking for "just me". Wednesday is also my TV night, so that explains the Doritos.

So, as much as I hate to admit to it, this was the menu:

Morning
1 item egg
1 serving Light Rye Bread
1 serving RSF Becel
1/2 serving Peanut butter 1 T
1 cup carrot(s)
1 serving PC Ranch Dressing - Lite -

Midday
1/2 serving Dairyland Cottage Cheese 2% - 1/2 cup
1 tsp butter
11 oz uncooked potato(es)
(potatos get lighter when you cook them - I didn't know that, so I weighed it before rather than after)
1/4 serving Bean Salad Paisley Farms
1 serving Top Dog Maple Leaf
Evening
2 serving Top Dog Maple Leaf
12 pieces Taco Tortilla Chips
1 serving Dempsters Prebiotic Barley & Sunflower Bread
2 serving Doritos
1 cup Froot Loops
1 item Vanilla Reduced Fat Ice Cream Cone

Pretty pathetic, aye? Half of the potato was baked, and the other half I cut into thin, thin slices and baked till crispy in the oven. Not bad at all with a bit of ketchup! Like hot potato chips. Will definitely try that again!

Its a beautiful day in the neighbourhood....

breakfast is over, and we have the whole day to relax! I started my day at five thirty, with the usual All Bran fibre kick of the day, then snuck back into bed for an hour or two...or three!

The menu plan for today:

Breakfast:

1. All Bran & milk

2. Mushroom Omlette (1 whole egg, 1 white)
Dempsters Probiotic Bread 1 tsp butter, 1 1/2 tsp peanut butter (I cut one slice in half, and pretend I have two pieces of toast!)

Midday:

Ham and cheese toast
2 slices of bread (1 point)
1 slice of extra lean ham, divided (1 point)
2 regular Kraft slices (3 points - well worth the extra point! That FF stuff is gross!)
mustard

Snack:
1 cup of grapes


Supper:

PIZZA

1 serving Grimm's Flaxseed Tortilla 3
1/3 Tbsp store-bought pesto sauce 0.5
40 g Mozzarella cheese - Lucerne 3
1/4 cup mushroom(s)
1 serving Extra Lean Ham - 1
1/4 cup green pepper 0
1 serving Parmesan Cheese 2 Tablespoons - 1
1/8 cup onion(s) 0
3 Tbsp pineapple 0

Romaine salad w. Caesar dressing 1 (thinned with a few drops of vinegar/milk)
Light Jello

Snack
rice crackers and new low cal roasted red pepper dip I found on the weekend - I will let you know how it turns out!

Slight Change of Plan

Well, yesterday's lunch of tortilla "pizzas" was so good, I just had to make them for supper, too! My intention was to take a picture but before I knew it, they just vanished! Not only did this happen at lunch time, but at dinner time too, so you will have imagine what these tortillas looked like in all their crispy goodness! For 6 1/2 points for two, from start to finish, they can't be beat!

I am not a great fan of tomato sauce, so I used a teaspoon of pesto as a base on each tortilla. Before serving, I added a very light dusting of Parmesan and some red pepper flakes while they were hot out of the oven. "Real" pizza is just not worth all the points for one piece when these are so much easier on the digestive tract! Next time I am going to try this with spinach and feta. Can't wait!

We had strawberries dipped in Splenda for dessert - I needed a "sweet fix". I was amazed that the Splenda tasted sooooooooooo good! I am now officially a convert. If you can eat the stuff on a strawberry, and it tastes great? What else can you do with this miracle of modern science? Dare we bake????

The menu for today is very simple:

Morning

All Bran and milk with my new friend, Splenda.

Midday

Top Dogs and Wonder Bun for lunch. I never ate hot dogs before WW but now? This treat is my new summertime favourite! I use two hot dogs in one bun, just to make sure I am not stuck with an empty bun for my last bite! Slathered with mustard, relish and onions? Mystery meat at its finest! Sauerkraut salad on the side. I have been making this for years, and it is always a big hit. If you like marinated salads, I think you just may like this! Turns out that it is a freebie, too! No points! If you were running short of points, I think you could lose the bun, and make a good lunch of just the hot dogs and sauerkraut salad. It would be pretty tasty for four points, wouldn't you say?


Sauerkraut Salad
2 cups sauerkraut, well-drained
1 cup chopped green pepper
1/2 cup chopped onion
1 cup chopped celery
1/4 cup white vinegar
1/2 cup Sugar Twin (Splenda!)
2 tbs. chili sauce
1 tsp. dried parsley flakes


In a large bowl combine sauerkraut, green pepper, onion and celery. In a small bowl, combine vinegar, Sugar Twin, chili sauce, and parsley flakes. Add vinegar mixture to sauerkraut mixture. Mix well to combine. Cover and refrigerate at least 1 hour. Gently stir again, just before serving.

Evening

Stuffed zucchini with tomato sauce, with a tossed Greek salad. Since I used the sausage on the tortillas yesterday, I will just use the leftover pork tenderloin in the stuffing. Maybe add some mushrooms, celery and onions into to the mix, too. There are so many "freebies" that you can use to really plump out a menu! And, since I am making a mess chopping for the salad, I may as well prep the veggies for the zucchini at the same time.

Snacks

V8, fresh apricots, nectarines, grapes, Susie's Flat Bread with Laughing Cow Cheese.

Thursday's Plan

So, here is my plan for today - the main objective is to use up the leftovers in the frig! All of this comes to 24.5 points. I know that you are supposed to be eating all of your points, plus flex points, but really, it is hard on the jaws to munch through all of this! If it weren't for this heat, I would make a big pot of vegetable soup, and just eat that for a day, to give my face a rest!

Morning

All Bran cereal & milk

Midday
Ham, mushroom, mozzarella & pineapple 'pizza' (made on WW a Tortilla - 4.5 points!)

Evening
Stuffed Zucchini
1 T olive oil

1/2 cup cooked Basmati rice
1 cup mushrooms, 1/2 cup onion, 1 cup celery, coarsely chopped

tomato sauce (I used leftovers from another dinner)

2 oz German Swiss Cheese

Parmesan Cheese to finish
3 oz Pork finely sliced, then cut in slivers

Stir fry vegetables in olive oil, then add to food processor to chop finely. Add rice and pork to fry pan, and add a little tomato sauce to bind, salt, pepper, and red pepper flakes. Mix in the finely chopped vegetables, and 1 oz of the Swiss cheese, then stuff "nuked" zucchini that has been scooped out to allow for filling. Drizzle with tomato sauce, and sprinkle with 1 oz of Swiss cheese, and 2 T of Parmesan. Finish in the oven or on the barbecue, until warmed through. 6 servings.

(I finally got around to making this on Saturday nightbut I thought it best to put the picture here with the recipe!)

Serve with a chopped Greek salad (fresh cucumbers, vine tomatoes, fresh basil, olive oil & balsamic vinegar) and a French Baguette.

Snacks

Nectarine
Susie's Flat Bread and & Laughing Cow Cheese
1 cup of grapes

They say....

that building a new habit takes three weeks. I am inclined to believe it. But another fact is that it only takes stepping out of the traces a couple of times to completely erase one! The habit I will be working on for the next three weeks, is making specific daily menu plans. Here is what I have planned for today.

Wednesday, August 01, 2007

Morning
cheese toast made with 2 serving FF Swiss Cheese
1 serving Stone Ground Thin Bread 2 slices
1/2 cup All Bran w 1 1/2 glass skim milk



Midday

1 medium nectarine(s)
Smoked Turkey Sandwich

Evening
2 Chicken Feta Sausages from Costco (only 3 points each or special deal, 2 for 5!)
1 8 oz barbecued potato & sliced onion, brushed with 2 tsp butter

green beans

Snacks
1 cup of grapes @ 11

Sliced Tomatoes @ 3
4 fresh sliced tomato(es)
sprinkled with

1 tsp homemade basil pesto
30 g Feta Cheese
2 tsp olive oil & S&P, balsamic vinegar to taste

(this platter is for two, so that makes a pretty hefty snack for 2 1/2 points per person)

1 wedge Laughing Cow Cheese with 1 serving (3 pieces) Susie's Multi Seed Flatbread @ bedtime

Deprivation

It boils down to whether you view life in general as a cup half full, or a cup half empty.

It seems to me, that when we have so many foods that were created for our enjoyment, how can I ever feel deprived if I make an effort to explore this world full of tastes and textures? Falling into the rut of eating the same ol' same ol' is impossible if I allow myself to indulge while shopping the "edges" of the supermarket! What can be better than strawberries in February, corn on the cob in January?

You don't have to be a millionaire to be inventive with what is at hand. Take risks. Even if it doesn't turn out great, at least it will be a change! It feels so good to indulge myself by buying the 'good' stuff - in the long run, it isn't nearly as expensive as fast food meals, or the medical issues that follow eating poorly.

Here is my plan for the day!


Morning
Omelet, consisting of:
1 item egg
2 item egg white(s)
1/2 oz German Swiss Cheese
1 cup mushroom(s)
onions

1 serving Safeway Stone Ground Thin Bread 2 slices
2/3 Tbsp butter
1 cup fat-free skim milk


Midday
8 oz plum(s)
Chicken Sandwich


Evening
green leafy salad, with Creamy Caesar dressing
3 oz Pork, tenderloin done on the barby - it looks like another scorcher here

1 cup of steamed potatoes

1/2 cup cooked carrots

barbecued zucchini sliced and sprinkled with
1 Tbsp shredded Parmesan cheese

Diet Jello, 2 T cool whip

total points use? 22

This is hardly deprivation in my books!

McDonald's

It was one of those days. There I was, minding my own business, on my way to do grocery shopping at four thirty, when wham! A Big Mac attack.



For the first time in my life, I gave in gracefully and just enjoyed the splurge. Actually it really didn't taste as good as the craving led me believe it would, but you know cravings...they promise you the world, and never deliver...much like a handsome man with an IQ of 96. In hindsight, eating a Big Mac in a parking lot really isn't worthy of the cost - 23 points. Next time, I want candlelight and wine before I put out like that!



Now, before WW I would have totally berated myself for this splurge for days. But yesterday? Breakfast was 3 points, and lunch was also 3 points, so it was an absolutely guilt free indulgence! Before WW I would have eaten the same thing, but the mental attitude would have been so much different. I really wonder if following this program faithfully does something chemically to your brain, because it seems to me that I am eating much more than I ever did, and basically cooking the same things the same way. But, on the other hand, even if you make one small 'mistake' a day, the pounds can creep up and pounce! And I do notice that the level in the olive oil bottle has not gone down as much this month! There haven't been any notable sacrifices. Just small changes, barely noticeable.



So, today I started off "large" with a one egg + one white mushroom omelet. Lunch will be a smoked turkey sandwich, and tonight we have an invitation to dine with friends, so I have no idea what we will be eating, but my guess is "well"! After a month on program, I think I can manage "guesstimates" for one evening. I always overestimate to be on the safe side though, and when push comes to shove, having diabetes makes a reason for my idiosyncrasies at the table. So, my 'no thanks' to seconds is taken seriously the first time, and not eating my pie crust won't raise a single eyebrow! You have to make everything work for you in this life!

Menu Planning

I do so much better when I know what is in the house to eat! Before joining WW, I always made my weekly menu plan on "Desk Day" (usually Tuesday) so anything I needed for the following week could be purchased when out shopping on "Errand Day". This good habit fell by the wayside in the blur that was June. I love reading what my favourite bloggers out there are having for dinner, so I thought I would return the favour today! Now I ask you, does this look like I am going without?

Breakfast

2 Eggs, scrambled with Mrs. Dash

Whole Wheat Toast

(2 for 90 Cal - 1 point)

1/2 T Cheeze Whiz

1/2 T Peanut Butter

Skim Milk

Lunch

Sliced Smoked Turkey, FF Swiss Cheese & Tomato Sandwich

with 1 T Hellman's Light Mayo

16 rice crackers

2 T of Roasted Red Pepper Dip

Dinner

Chicken Stir Fry made with:

2 oz breast meat

Veggy mix from Costco

Stir fried in chicken broth, seasoned with Garlic, Ginger, Soya sauce and Hot Chili Sauce

(I toss the package stuff that comes with the veggies...mine is better, and POINT FREE!)

Ice Cream Bar

Snackage to use up the rest of the points for the day:

McDonald's Ice Cream Cone

Werther's Candy

For supper tonight....

I plan to grill some lamb chops with pesto, zucchini with parmesan, sliced tomatoes with basil. Berries and whipped cream (Cool Whip actually, but I take what I can get!) for dessert. All thanks to Costco's wonderful selection of fresh produce and meat. The only problem I have when shopping there, is recognizing when to stop! For two old people, who basically thrive on "roughage", Costco is hog heaven. I am sure we will be able to consume the flat of tomatoes we bought before they turn, as well as the huge quantity of cherries and grapes. Of course, I couldn't pass by the berries - they literally jumped into the cart. So, after cramming it all into our frig (not a small one, either) we have enough food to feed a small country. And next week? We will go back and do it again! Life is good.

A small miracle has happened at our house. I am known for my aversion to the outdoors. Any activity that could expose me to ultra violet light, temperatures above 23º or contact with lower life forms (insects, bad men, nasty women) is completely out of the question. Or, at least it was. We have been dining outside for the past week, enjoying the luxury of watching the sun set, and then lighting candles so we can enjoy one more cup of tea... The bugs haven't been a problem...either that, or the glass of wine with supper really must take the edge off the hysteria.

Did I mention that I am scared stiff of bugs? Butterflies, too. Creepy crawlies or flying things. They have evil intent, as far as I can see. Just yesterday, while at my beloved Costco, I was attacked by a grasshopper. Feature this. Acres of pavement. Barely a tree in sight. I am minding my own business with the car window open to get rid of the hot air when this creature just hops in from nowhere and land on my thigh. Of course, my husband happened to be pulling out of the parking stall at the time, and I guess my gut wrenching, blood curdling scream must have alerted him to the danger. After he pried his nails out of the steering wheel, he helped me check the car from one end to the other for this threat to life that had evidently hopped out of the window trying to avoid the flailing and thrashing about that ensued after his discovery.

Rick has learned to not even try to explain away my fears. He just deals with them, much like a spray bottle full of water marked "nightmare repellent" soothes a three year old. He becomes MAN. The great white hunter. He can snatch any threat to WOMAN from the air with his bare hands, and dash it to pieces with one fell swoop of his hand. He can tackle killer moths after being aroused from a dead sleep without a murmur of complaint, and spiders are no match for this fearless man. Not bad for a guy that cries at chick flicks, eh?