More pictures of Lily

Lily's got her tongue sticking out a little bit! She was so sound asleep that I was able to get in really close to take the picture. Unusual.


Think my fish feel intimidated?

Long time.

I realized I haven't posted in a while so I wanted to drop in and say hi. Hi.

Weight's been 147 for a few days in a row now, after hovering at 150 for a while. I'm still losing, which is cool. I'm also offically in between sizes now, which means although I have to get some summery clothes to wear, nothing fits right.

I found out that DVR will "sponsor" me to finish Rutgers and get my MSW, which is wicked cool. They're also going to give me funding for books. Sweet.

I got a lot accomplished yesterday at SOS. I took a client for a referral appointment with an agency that provides supportive services like transportation and housing assistance, etc. That went well. What was funny was that one of the women who was running the intake appointment offered me a job. I wasn't there for me! I gave her my email address and told her to contact me.

It's insanely beautiful out today, and if I didn't have commitments, I'd be sitting on the beach right now. As it is, I'm free all day tomorrow but of course the weather won't cooperate.

Went to the Yankees game on April 2nd and froze my butt off. Holy *%^! was it cold! I am bringing a blankie with me to next week's game on Wednesday versus Boston. I don't know if I can handle freezing like that again. And they lost, which made the torturous temperatures even more bitter.

To celebrate the nice weather, Jake and I are going for a walk around the Manasquan Reservoir tonight. That should be nice.

I found my recipe for Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon dressing. I don't think I've posted it on here, so I will do so now. If I have, here's the recipe again! :o)

Spinach Salad with Hot Bacon Dressing

Baby spinach
1/2 pound bacon, cut up with kitchen shears
1/2 cup white wine or apple cider vinegar
2-3 tbsp Dijon mustard
1 tsp Splenda or sugar
2-3 cloves garlic, minced
Salt and pepper to taste


1. Fry the cut up bacon until crisp. While bacon is frying, whisk together the other ingredients in a seperate bowl.
2. When bacon is crisp, drain off some of the fat if you wish, but leave some in the pan, as it will serve as the 'oil' in the dressing.
3. If you took the pan off to drain the fat, return pan to range and heat until bacon sizzles again. Remove from heat. Add other ingredients to pan.
4. When it has stopped sizzling, pour hot dressing over baby spinach, allowing it to wilt a little bit.

That's pretty much all that's new here. I'm starting to get excited about the Parkinson's Unity Walk at the end of this month; I'm very close to my personal fundraising goal of $500! I've gotten some donations from unexpected (but welcomed) places.

Star Wars of Legos?

Jake's become enraptured by the Star Wars Wii game; who knew that they were really Legos? :)

Weight's down to 148, 8 pounds from my goal. Insane. Feels good though.

Rutgers' womens basketball is burning up the courts again. I'm going to try and catch a game or two . . . they're ranked #2 in the country. Cool.

Got Zoey's christening on Sunday, which should be nice. I have a nice dress and will get to see everyone.

Didn't get into Gallaudet. Got the letter on Thursday and I was quite sad. Jake went and got me flowers and some LC Ultra Dark chocolate and some "bath caviar," which I used tonight and smells lovely. Glad I have a back-up plan to finish my MSW in a year. I'll be taking 3 courses (eep) over the summer and then 3 next semester and an internship. I'm still weighing if I will reapply to GU next year; it would be nice if I had my MSW before moving to DC, since that would equate a better job (and perhaps more weight on the resume). Means I'll have to retake the GRE, at least once more. Yuck.

Baseball season is almost here, and I am excited. We're going to the April 2nd game, which should be cool. Jake and I decided to put some tickets up on StubHub to offset the price of the packages, so that will help too.

Jake's parents are re-renting the same house on the beach in Delaware for this summer, and I'm happy about that. I had a really nice time last summer, and the whole "roll out of bed, put on your swimsuit, grab a book, walk out the door, grab your chair and find a place on the beach to relax" thing worked for me. I hope this year we don't miss the fireworks and that they're not canceled the day of due to rain. And then we're headed back home for a Phillies/Mets game in PA. Should be fun.

Not much else is new here . . . same old same old. The fish are still alive, as are the snails. One of the snails was nowhere to be found a few days ago, and I started to worry that Lily had somehow gotten her crafty little paw on it, but it turns out that it'd just burrowed into the gravel beneath the Roman ruins. Guess life in the aquarium requires you to make your own fun.

There's a new recipe that's taking the viral LC world by storm, for something called "Oopsie Rolls." I've made them twice, and while I like the texture of these better, I like the taste of the regular Rev Rolls better. Perhaps they'll be better with some tweaking. Jake and I went in search of "muffin top" pans today to make rolls that are identically sized. Our quest was in vain, but I'll get my hands on some of them soon enough, I'm sure. I'll check out eBay or something . . .

I think I'm gonna make some French Toast from them, since I have Howard's Maple Flavored Syrup, made from Splenda, and carb-free. I'll post the recipe for the Oopsie Rolls; if you try them let me know how you like them . . .

CLEOCHATRA'S BEST EVER REVOL-OOPSIE ROLLS

3 large eggs
1 packet of Splenda
A dash of salt
A pinch of cream of tartar
3 ounces cream cheese (not Tbsp!) Do not soften!

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

Separate the eggs and add Splenda, salt, and cream cheese to the yolks. Use a mixer to combine the ingredients together. In a separate bowl, whip egg whites and cream of tartar until stiff (if you're using the same mixer, mix the whites first and then the yolk mixture).

Using a spatula, gradually fold the egg yolk mixture into the white mixture, being careful not to break down the whites. Spray a cookie sheet with non-stick spray and spoon the mixture onto the sheet, making 6 mounds. Flatten each mound slightly.

Bake for about 30 minutes (You want them slightly softer, not crumbly). Let cool on the sheet for a few minutes, and then remove to a rack and allow them to cool.

Storage and freezing:

I store them in a Ziplock bag with the bag open partially (this way they breathe and don't get too moist) and keep them in the fridge after the first day. Then, when you want to use them, take them out and set them on the counter for 15-30 minutes or until they are room temperature. This makes them more "dry" and less sticky.

As for freezing, I tried freezing and they do freeze. This time you want to close the Ziplock when storing (I only store two per bag). To thaw, let them rest on the counter until room temperature in the bag with the bag open. When they're close to room temperature, set them outside of the bag so that they can "dry" out slightly for use.

Makes 6 "Oopsie Rolls"
Calories 85 each
Carbs Less than 1g each (WOWee!!!)

From the Livin' La Vida Low-Carb blog at: http://livinlavidalocarb.blogspot.com/2008/03/cleochatras-amazing-low-carb-oopsie.html

Milestone

Hit a new low today on the scale, 149.4. That's 0.4 pounds lighter than my previous low. Cool. I'm surprised I lost since I ate slightly off program yesterday for Easter, having some LC dessert mixes. I'll still take it though. I'll write more later. I just wanted to post the number before I forgot it (old age is creeping up surprisingly fast).

Grey days

Well, my 'tightening up' of the way I eat seems to be paying off; today I clocked in at 149.8. Works for me. Had the late night munchies and devoured McD's at 2 am, so I'm surprised I lost. But I'll take it.

Spent a nice meal on Friday night with Jake, Heather, Ryan, Jen, and Aunt Kathie. Also got to talk with Murph for a while, which was nice since we don't get enough time to chat 1 to 1. The dryer delivery was a huge fiasco. First they guys didn't speak English too well, then I had to run over to Tom and Murph's to get Uncle Dave, who was working next door. He had the delivery men leave the washer/dryer in the kitchen so he and the plumber could install it themselves, since apparently the water line wasn't hooked up or something.

So Dave and the plumber come over and start moving the washer and dryer into the new laundry closet. They almost get the thing inside when they realize that there's no way for the plumber to get out, since the washer/dryer blocks the whole door and the closet isn't much wider than the door frame. Finally they had to get a 3 foot ladder, give it to the plumber after everything was hooked up, then the plumber (who is older and retired, mind you) had to climb up over the washer/dryer (since they're stackables) and down the tall ladder in the front of the washer/dryer. Then Dave went up the tall ladder, reached over the top of the washer/dryer, and snagged the 3 ft ladder, leaving nothing behind. I swear, my family does nothing easily.

I finally gave up with the whole 'patience is a virtue' thing and emailed Gallaudet to find out the status of my application for admission. The woman who wrote back was really nice, saying she hasn't heard anything yet, that it's customary to hear 3-4 weeks after the application was received, and gave me the email address of the liason for the Clinical Psychology department. Since 3-4 weeks have long since elapsed, I sent an email to the liason, asking when I should expect to hear the result of my application. I'm a little less nervous now, even though that makes no sense. I'm still really hoping I get accepted for an interview, since I think I present myself even better in person than I do in person. Let's continue to keep em crossed, folks!

Here's a recipe many people have asked me for . . .
Poppy Chicken
Ingredients
1 to 1 1/2 lb boneless, skinless chicken breast, diced into roughly 1 inch pieces
1/2 cup grated Parmesan Cheese
1/4 cup garlic powder
oil
1 bag of frozen broccoli spears
3/4 cup mayo
1/4 cup heavy cream
1 tsp poppy seeds
roughly 3 to 4 cups of shredded cheese (I usually use a mix of sharp cheddar and Italian blend)

1. Preheat oven to 425. Toss the chicken in the Parmesan Cheese and garlic powder until evenly coated. Brown in batches in oiled pan over med hi heat.

2. While the chicken is browning, empty bag of broccoli into a microwave safe bowl and pop that bad boy in the micro for 7 to 8 mins, uncovered.

3. In a separate bowl, whisk together the mayo, cream, and seeds.

4. Spray a 9x13in baking pan with PAM (or generic equivalent), layer in the broccoli. Salt and pepper, and add a few pats of butter if you wish. Sprinkle with a light layer of Parmesan and garlic powder.

5. Distribute the chicken evenly over the broccoli, top with the mayo mixture (you probably won't have enough to cover the whole dish, but spread it as much as you can). Sprinkle with the shredded cheese and bake for 30-45 minutes, or until it reaches the level of doneness you like (Jake likes it browned and bubbly)

Here's some more Star Wars pix . . .

Ho hum

I'm hanging out in Secaucus today, waiting for my aunt Kathie's washer and dryer to arrive. The guy called a little while ago and said he'd be here in 10 to 15 minutes. So that's good . . . means after they leave I can go to the store and pick up some dinner fixin's.

So let's see . . . was a largely uneventful week until Wednesday. My internship placement is at Signs of Sobriety (www.SignsofSobriety.org), which is the ONLY organization that is by, for, and of the Deaf, dedicated to counseling, educating, and advocating for substance abuse treatment and awareness for the Deaf/HoH here in New Jersey. When I first joined them last semester, my supervisor, Steve (who is a Deaf man with an MSW from Gallaudet . . . I got him to write one of my recommendations to GU. Sweet.)told me that SOS was entering into a competitive bidding process for renewals of their grants. I signed on and did a lot of work with the grant writing process and the grassroots support organization.

Hang on, the washer and dryer are here . . .

Wow, am I glad Uncle Dave was working at Tom's next door, because the guy was kinda rude. I also had to hunt down Hoot and lock her in Heather's room. But they're bringing it in now, which is good.

Anyway, SOS got word early this month that their grants were not renewed and that SOS would have to downsize drastically since they've lost most of their funding. On Wednesday was a public meeting of NJ's Division of Addiction Services for the Deaf and HoH. I went, as did many others in support of SOS. Heck, I even spoke, and was quite nervous (though Sharon said I appeared very confident). I just pointed out that it was quite unfair that all of the funding went to one source and that Deaf/HoH people don't have a choice like hearing people. And also, that if you had a problem, you'd want to go to someone who specializes in your problem. For example, if you have cancer, you're not going to see a general practiconer. You're gonna go see an oncologist. The organization that received the funding that was SOS's is not an organization run by Deaf people, and it does not specialize in helping Deaf people. It's unfair that Deaf people aren't given options and that they have to settle for care that will probably be subpar.

After I spoke, the 'designee' for the Chairwoman of Health and Human Services (the chairperson incidentally also graduated from Drew . . . weird) started slinging mud about SOS and how it was a business matter. For those of you who know me, when I tell you she reminded me of my ex-stepmother, this association speaks volumes. Ugh, she was so nasty!! I left the meeting quite downfallen, and disillusioned. I thought the reason they had the meeting was so people's voices could be heard. And we weren't. That sucks.

So instead of working with some clients on independent living skills and developing interpersonal relationships, I'm now doing some loss counseling and getting them linked up with other supportive services. I know that I will be doing things that are needed, but it's just so sad, because SOS is such a dynamic agency.

Still haven't heard from GU . . . I'm starting to get nervous and a little sad. I am also starting to doubt if I'll get accepted for an interview. Jake, my friends, and family have all been really supportive and encouraging, but it's hard not to feel a little blue. The suspense is killing me. I'm starting to wonder if I should e-mail them and ask when I should expect to hear . . .

Weight's still dancing around 152. I hate being stuck in a rut! Made a tasty dinner last night though . . . of my own creation . . .

"Tangy Creamed Spinach with Beef"

3/4 to 1 pound of baby spinach
a few pinches of ground nutmeg (fresh is best)
1 pound ground beef
1 medium onion, chopped
2 tbsp. butter
4 oz. cream cheese
1/3 cup heavy cream
2/3 to 1 cup chicken stock
1/3 to 1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese

In a large skillet, cook the spinach down with a little oil over medium heat. Stir in the nutmeg. (It really adds a little depth to the dish . . . I always use nutmeg when dealing with spinach or kale. Yum!)
When spinach is wilted, transfer to another bowl and brown the beef. While the beef is browning, cut the cream cheese up and heat over low heat with the cream, whisking until smooth. When it's smooth, turn off the heat.
Remove the beef to the same bowl as the spinach and saute onion in butter and a little oil until translucent. When the onions are golden, add the spinach and beef back into the skillet. Pour in the chicken stock and let it simmer down until slightly reduced.
Turn off the heat and stir in the cream cheese mixture. Add Parmesan cheese and stir well to combine. Salt and pepper if needed.

Jake loved this dish . . . I was just looking for a way to eat the baby spinach I'd bought before it went bad. It was quite tasty though.

I finished reading "An Unquiet Mind" last night, a memoir about manic-depressive illness (or Bipolar Disorder, whichever term you prefer). It was sooooooo good. I just love books like that . . . "When Rabbit Howls" is also really good; it's written by the multiple personalities of a woman who suffers from multiple personality disorder (or Dissasociative Identity Disorder . . . though I don't think it's as good a term as multiple personalities, but that's just me). Kind of like "Sybil," but from a first-person perspective. I've also got a first person narrative of schizophrenia waiting in the wings, but unfortunately grad school reading is more pressing at the moment. Bah.

I'm getting marginally better at Wii . . . I'm connecting more when I bat and the scores of our games are getting less insane. Little by little.

The Boss and Rosalita are still alive, as are Snaily and More Snaily. I have to say that the snails are mad cute. I love it when they are 'cleaning' the sides of the aquarium because you can see their little mouths and their tiny tongues. Awwwww!

Lily's rejoined the general population and is seeming much happier. Simba's relatively unaffected (I think he's one of those out of sight out of mind kind of animals; he's not the sharpest knife in the drawer) but Jake told me that Nina hissed at Lily the day after she was set free from the bedroom. LOL! Lily probably deserved it though . . . she's a troublemaking little imp.

That's about it for now. Gonna go watch some sleazy daytime tv.

Nonsensical

Weight's hopping back down, after almost reaching back to 155 a few days ago. "Sue" has gone away for now, so I guess I'm getting back to normal hormonally.

I've been consciously eating more "cleanly" (ie: more strict compliance with Atkins) and have re-entered ketosis, according to my handy little pee strips. Today I had some decaf tea with heavy cream and liquid Splenda (Sweetzfree) for breakfast, and packed a power Atkins lunch: big ole salad with spring mix greens, 2 hard boiled eggs, some extra sharp Cheddar cheese, a green pepper, and lots of delish Bacon Ranch dressing to dip it all in (or pour over, in the case of the salad). Add 2 Sprite Zeros and I'm set for the day. Dinner will be something with baby spinach and chicken . . . perhaps something like a horseradish chicken but not cooked in the slow cooker. We'll see.

Jake and I got a Wii. He texted me on Sunday afternoon (he'd gone to Pton to do some computer work for a friend's family), asking me to go to the Best Buy out on 35 and attempt to buy a Wii. Apparently it's still really hard to get one, but not as bad as the crush around the holidays. I went over to the Best Buy and there were a few left. I tried to buy more than one but couldn't. I was still really skeptical about the whole Wii thing . . . I've never been a 'gamer' and haven't played video games since I was about 10. Jake was as excited as a little kid on Christmas morning. He went out and got another controller and 3 games.

I have to say that the Wii is really cool. Jake got a game called Major League Baseball 2k8 and I really like it (even though I suck at it). We can "become" the Yankees and Phillies and play games against one another, having to "pitch," "hit," and "field." I'm decent at the pitching, getting the hang of the hitting, and totally suck at the fielding. I can't catch the ball for the life of me and have this mental block that makes me keep throwing to first base, no matter where I should be throwing it. And Jake is loving it too . . . if he steals home on me again, there's gonna be hell to pay.

Even cooler is the fact that the Wii is hooked up to my wireless router, so Jake and I can play games with other people remotely via the web if it's a WiFi game and the other people also have the same game. Jake got the hottest new thing, something Mario Brothers Smash. I don't know, he tried it for the first time last night and it was confusing. But it's WiFi. So we'll have to practice and then set up a play date with others who have it, like Melissa and Anthony.

The Boss, Rosalita, Snaily, and More Snaily are all still alive. The Boss had a brush with death on Saturday but Jake changed the water and it seems to be doing much better. Yesterday I thought one of the snails was dead, as it was floating on top of the aquarium. I couldn't have told you if it was Snaily or More Snaily, as they are identical. Anyway, I came back in and it was at the bottom. I decided to hold off on flushing it, as I thought maybe it just lost its grip on the side of the aquarium . . . I'm glad I waited, because when I got home from class last night, both snails were happily sucking away at the bottom and sides of the aquarium. Poor guy must've lost its grip. It will never know how close it came to being flushed (or set free, if you can believe "Finding Nemo" . . . love that movie).

Lily's still on lockdown and looking more depressed daily. She will be turned loose on the other cats this week, either tomorrow or Thursday. Her medication is done, and I think we're all happy that it's over with. I hope her rejoining the general population will help lift her spirits a little. She's still up to mischief, though. There's a finger hole on the top of the aquarium so you can take the lid off that apparently is just the right size for her to stick her paw into. I've caught her "fishing" a few times, but she's so far been unsuccessful (thankfully).

Ok, I guess that's enough nonsense for now . . .