Inspiration Alley

Burn Notice New Season

Burn Notice gets better and better with each season. Of course, It's also cool that it is filmed here in Miami.  It's about a former spy who uses his special ops training to help people while trying to find out who "burned" him so he can go back to being a spy.

A portion of this weeks episode was filmed at the Gold Coast Railroad Museum down by the Metro Zoo.  We've been to the museum before so it was neat to see it on the show.  I wish I knew the filming scheduled because I'd like to see the filming in action.

If you haven't watched the show before, you might be able to catch some of last seasons episodes because USA is one of those channels that repeat the shows at various times.

30 Days

without chocolate.

Part of my new low carb lifestyle.

I thought it would be harder than it is, but I've been doing it.  The candy was callling out to me for the first few days (maybe a week), but now I don't even notice it.  I have had 1 homemade chocolate chip cookie and one piece of hubby's birthday cake, but other than that, I've been chocolate free. 

I've even passed the test of impulse buys at the grocery store.  I can check out without picking up a piece of candy.  I can pass by my coworkers desks without indulging which has been quite the challenge since it's been so stressful at work these days.

My last piece of chocolate was May 1st - so I've made it thirty plus days.

My goal for June is to start some sort of exercising.  Nothing special really, but more than crashing on the sofa and watching TV or playing on Facebook after work.  I'll keep you posted on how I'm doing.  To be honest, this is the longest I've stuck with it.

Tried Bison tonight

and it was really great.  I couldn't tell a difference between the Bison I had tonight and the steak I had last night.

It started with my blood sugars being higher than normal, and my good cholesterol being too low and my bad cholesterol being too high.  I've been following a healthier diet lately and have been researching low carb, healthier fat alternatives.  I found the Pritikin Spa site and saw that they had Bison on their weekly menu, so I started to research Bison.  I took a trip to the Whole Foods Mkt over the weekend, and there in the freezer case was Bison steaks, and Bison burgers.  So I bought both to give them a try.

Turns out it is very, very lean and is high in protein.  The 6oz steak I had was 180 caories, 2.5g fat, 0 carbs, and 37g protein.  I had steak last night for dinner and the Bison tonight.  I seasoned them both in a similar manner, and there was truely no real difference.  I would have to say that the Bison probably tasted a little bit better.

Later in the week, or maybe the weekend, I'll cook up the Bison burgers and try those.

If I order something from you

that doesn't mean I want to be on your mailing list.

I can't believe how much email junk I receive - much of it from ordering online - sometimes as gifts and now they think I use their product.  No lie, I just deleted over 5000 emails (almost a months worth) most saying Save - Free Shipping - Free Upgrade -- 30% off -- 3 days only - yada yada yada.

Toys R Us -- haven't ordered from them in year although with the new nephew in another year or two that will change. The Booster - this goes way back to my CM days, The Tyra Banks Show - really? Me? I think Not -- Sports Authority - nope, not me -- Runner's World magazine - Never!

I wonder just how long it takes to be dropped from a emailing list.

Project 365

I haven't been updating my pictures on Facebook or the 365 Blog (again with the time constraints).  But I have definately been keeping up with the pictures.  Some of the "different" things I've done have been

-- A week of what I normally watch on TV - just a picture of the TV with my favorite TV show playing.

-- I also went around to all of my schools - 3 elementary, 1 jr high, 1 sr high.

-- A week around my neighborhood - the street signs, the lake, the current construction, etc.

I am way behing on putting my album together and doing the journaling.  I'm going to try to get it uploaded to the 365 blog so at least I have my thoughts down.  I'm thinking I'll be able to work on it in ernest at the Fried Green Tomatoes Crop in Sebring - Sheesh ... that's a long time away -- maybe I'll have to make another crop first.

Another idea I had was to take pictures of sites around town.  You never know when something is going to be torn town, so I want to get pictures of places that hold meaning for me.

On An Olive Kick

I sometimes get into these weird eating kicks.

Lately it's been olives - green olives only.

I'll have them in salads or I'll make Tunafish and Olive or Liverwurst and Olive, or just cheese and olive sandwiches (or crackers).  I've been buying the Olive Tapenade spread at the grocery (which is quite expensive).  I'll even eat them right out of the jar (embarrassed to say sometimes for breakfast).  I even found some Chipotle stuffed green olives online (OK ... it hasn't progressed to me searching olives online, I was searching something else entirely and they showed up on the same page) which I almost bought.

I think it's weird to have cravings like this.  Come to think of it, I'm pretty sure it all started with the olives they had on the cruise ship.  It's been since I got back that I've been olive obsessed.  Must be something to that.  Hmmm.

What I found weird

when I was having my labs etc done was how "tight" the medical system is these days. 

In the old days, you showed your insurance card, the provider submitted to insurance, and then they sent you a bill for the difference.  Those days appear to be gone forever.  Everyone wants their money upfront.  The hospital (which shall remain nameless) actually called to tell me the exact amount I would have to pay after they accounted for the copay and the deductible, and my 10% etc.  Then they wanted to collect for an xray that I "may" have needed (I refused to pay until it was determined it was needed).  The girl kept telling me I'd have to come back to pay before they would do the test -- alright so ... my portion of the xray amounted to a whole $29.00.  (I could have paid but it just didn't make sense to me).  I wonder just how long I would have had to wait to be reimbursed when I didn't need the test.  In the end, I didn't need the extra xrays and I really felt like going back to the registation girl and saying Na Na Na NaNa.

I don't know ... I liked it better the old way.

I've been missed ...

or so I'm told.

Still alive and kicking down here in S. Florida.

But I have been extrememly busy.  When there is too much demand for my time something has to give and unfortunately the blog posts took the hit. 

What was added to my time has been some long overdue doctor appointments and testing.  Had 2 doctor appt, a mamogram and xrays done on Good Friday, a sleep study done Easter Saturday (if there is such a thing - but that's what I call it), and then the usual amount of work, commute and car shows.  For my 365 album I had the sleep study tech take a picture of me all wired up.

I still have the dreaded Colonoscopy (it really sucks getting old) and in my case (oh joy) I get to have an Endoscopy too.  Those will be May 4th.

I guess you can say that I've been living on the edge with poor eating habits, smoking, and less than adequate sleep and now it's time to pay the piper.  I need to lead a healthier lifestyle period - haven't quite come to terms with that fact yet, but I'm getting there.

TiVo Woes

If you know me ... you would probably know that I'm addicted to TiVo, which supports my reality TV addiction.

While I was on the cruise, TiVo had a problem with their phone lines, and TiVo wasn't updating.  I've now spent several hours on the tech support line trying to resolve the problem, but to no avail.  The system will get a phone line out, but then fails to download the program schedule.  Right now, it can't record anything unless you are watching it.

Tonight I have something new to try, and hopefully that will resolve the problem.  I cnan't wait to get home and give it a try.  I am so tired of doing it old school with the TV Guide, and not having all the programs recorded while I'm at work.  This is getting old.

I will say that even though I haven't got the problem resolved yet, I have loved their customer service department.  They've been patient, helpful, and I really felt like they actually cared about my problem, not to mention the call was handled in the good ol' USA.  Dealing with the customer service folks has been the bright spot of an otherwise annoying situation.

I was only gone for a week ...

my desk at work looks like I was gone a month.

the laundry pile is huge.

the fridge is bare.

While taking Mew to the vet, Mew bit my husband on the hand.  He ended up Sunday going to the Urgent Care center who prescribed antibiotics.  Hand is looking better but still swollen. Apparently, when you are bit by an animal the county does a full investigation, so they were stopping by to fill out a report.  Never mind that it was my cat, his shots were up to date, and he's now in cat heaven - which we told the urgent care center.  Anyway ... turning out to be a royal pain.

Aside from the cat fiasco, my husband bought another car while I was gone.  Made a down payment and we'll be traveling up to WPB to pick it up.  It's a Chevy Malibu from the 60s - I should know the year but I can't remember it right now.