Going on vacation

Eventhough it's Thursday, today is my Friday at work! George and I are leaving for our long weekend vacation together after breakfast in the morning. We'd planned to go to the Outer Banks, but we're going to the NC mountains instead. We made reservations last night at our favorite hotel in Hendersonville, NC, and we're really looking forward to getting away together.

It'll be my first trip since starting the Rice Diet. I'm planning to take Rice Diet meals for the whole weekend. That'll make the food issue easy for me, but not so easy for George. We'll figure something out.

Preparing to Cook

Eventhough I'm still going to the Rice House for my Rice Diet meals, I find myself collecting recipes for things I'll be able to prepare and eat once I'm done at the Rice House. It's been an interesting search, and I'm looking forward to becoming a better cook. I've found quite a few cookbooks on Amazon.com that I'd love, but I'll have to choose! Perhaps I'll head to Barnes and Noble or Borders and actually take a look.

Meanwhile, I've started collecting yummy-looking recipes from various websites, and cutting/pasting them onto a couple of online cookbook websites, MyCookbook, and more recently, DesktopCookbook. Since I signed up for MyCookbook several years ago, they've added a limit to the number of recipes you can add, and now call that a free basic membership. To add more, I'd have to pay. I was glad to find DesktopCookbook, and am taking advantage of their resources now.

Dinner out

Supper at Bistro 64 went well last night. The salmon, steamed veggies and potatoes were all yummy, eventhough there was no seasoning! I enjoyed visiting with everyone, and Tina and Bubby were especially complimentary of how I look. The encouragement was nice. :-) The only downside was that we didn't get our entrees until after 9:00. I was relieved that I still lost .2 lbs when I got on the scales this morning.

Still hanging in there

So far, being insulin-free is going well! My blood sugars have ranged from 89 to 101, falling pretty close to normal. As I continue to lose weight, those numbers should improve. I'm amazed at how the Rice Diet and exercise have trasnformed my diabetes! And I'm thrilled to be free of injections for now. I'm glad to know I can self-inject when needed, but I really appreciate being able to take a break from it. I won't be taking my health for granted any time soon!

The official results from Saturday's Autism Ribbon Run were posted, and my gun time was 50:42, though my chip time was 50:09. I put myself near the back of the pack, as I know I'd get off to a slower start than most. The chip time started when I actually crossed the starting line., where the gun time started when the race started. My pace per mile was 16 minutes, 19 seconds.

The race was a pretty fun experience, and I'll likely run it again. The weather was great, and I liked the finish line, which was a decline for the last bit. There was a sign that read, 1/4 MILE TO GO. When I saw that, I noticed I could see the finish line ahead, and I was able to finish in a trot. :-) Timmy the Termidor Bug, about 6 feet of fur, was there at the finish line to give me a high five. LOL

I did miss hearing split times at the mile markers, especially since I didn't wear a watch. (Next time, I'll try to remember to wear one.)

My time in this 5K was 6 minutes faster than my last 5K back in April. Yay! Now I want to look for another 5K to work toward.

Thursday, I'm joining George's family at a favorite restaurant in Cary, NC, Bistro 64, formerly the Cosmopolitan. When I received the news from George about the family gathering, I was concerned that I might not be able to go because of my Rice Diet. I found the chef's address on the website, and emailed him yesterday about my dilemma. We've exchanged a couple of emails now, and he's been very accomodating! He's going to whip up some salmon, steamed vegetables and plain potatoes. I'm looking forward to seeing George's family and enjoying a meal out with them.

Another 5K Under My Belt!

I finished the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh on Saturday in 50 minutes, 45 seconds, 6 minutes faster than my last 5K back in April! I'm jazzed about the progress, and now I want to find another 5K to stretch toward.

Today is my first day of trying to go without insulin, but oral meds instead for my diabetes. (This is with the doctor's approval, of course!) I'm hoping things go well.

5K Road Race Tomorrow

I'm participating in the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh tomorrow morning. It'll be my first 5K since the Cary Road Race back in April, which I finished in 56 minutes, 45 seconds. I was the very last one to cross the finish line in that one. I'm shooting for improving my time in the race tomorrow, that's the most important thing to me. If I'm not last, that will be icing on the cake.

It's supposed to be cold in the morning! I'll have to warm up carefully.

American Cities That Best Fit Me

According to a quiz I took on Blogthings this morning, Honolulu and Miami tie as the best US cities for me. I could live with either one! The quiz asked questions about various things like work, weather, transportation, and learning and fitness opportunities. I wouldn't call the quiz incredibly scientific, but kinda fun, nonetheless. I think I'd enjoy any of the cities that made my list.

American Cities That Best Fit You:

65% Honolulu

65% Miami

60% Austin

60% San Diego

55% Atlanta

Which American Cities Best Fit You?

I'm a Joiner

I decided to join a local running club called the Carolina Godiva Track Club, and see where it leads. At the least, the monthly newsletters will offer some more information than I already have, especially about running at the local level. The club sponsors several weekly group training runs in the area, but right now the distance and pace of all the runs are out of my league. That tells me how far I have to go before I'm where I want to be, fitness-wise, which is a little mind-boggling right now. Oh, I know I'm making progress, but the carrot is still dangling pretty far ahead of me.

I have decided to do another 5K road race this weekend, the Autism Ribbon Run in Raleigh. I think that running in more local races will help me get to know other local runners, in addition to the running club. I've eyed several November races, and think I might try to do a 5K every month or so. Perhaps that's ambitious...we'll see how Saturday's race goes! When I participated in the Cary Road Race last April, it took me the rest of the weekend to recover, and I was sore into the following week. This weekend, I've got too much to do! Saturday night, George and I are joining our ERUUF Covenant Group to make and serve dinner at the homeless shelter. Sunday afternoon, George and I are meeting friends at the North Carolina State Fair.

From the Vault: Trip to Virginia, October 2004

This is one of my favorite pictures of George. We were visiting Natural Bridge, Virginia, in October of 2004, and stopped to take a break on a hike. It was a fun trip, which included sights around Lexington, VA, as well.

George and I enjoy travelling together. Later this month, we plan to go to the Outer Banks to celebrate our fourth anniversary. 

Weekend activities

Saturday night, George and I went to the Varsity Theatre in Chapel Hill, and saw the movie, "The Science of Sleep." I didn't recognize any of the actors, but it was nice to see some fresh faces. It was an interesting movie, not one I'd see again, but glad I saw it once. And it was a nice date night with George.

Most of the rest of the weekend, I exercised and relaxed. On Saturday I exercised twice, and overdid it a bit. Did lighter workouts yesterday and this morning to let my muscles catch up a little.

George and I enjoyed some down time together as well. With a busy week ahead, it was nice to chill out together.

Last evening I rented and watched "The Pelican Brief." It's one of my favorite repeat movies. I like the Denzel Washington-Julia Roberts combo, the scenes of New Orleans, and the fact that it's a John Grisham story. I haven't kept up with Grisham's later works, but I really enjoyed his earlier books.

From the Vault: Sliding Rock, North Carolina

This picture of me was taken in May 2004 by George during our Memorial Day trip to the North Carolina mountains. I like this picture because it really shows off Sliding Rock, a natural waterslide in a cold, cold creek! It's a state recreational area in Pisgah National Forest, equipped with two lifeguards at the bottom (in a lifequard stand) and a changing area with restrooms. I remember going to Sliding Rock as a camper in Brevard. It is a lot of fun, though I remember adjusting to the cold water a lot more quickly as a child.

George and I return to the North Carolina mountains at least once a year. We just love it! 

Plateau

I've hit a plateau with the weight loss, three days at the same weight! Rats! I talked with the doctor at the Rice Diet about it, and he said not the worry about it. My blood sugars are looking good, so I need to keep doing what I'm doing. He said it's probably not about the weight, but water retention, wearing heavier clothes, something like that. It's really frustrating, but I'm going to hang in there.

In other news, the Duke football team is playing against the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa tomorrow. I'm not even sure if Dad and Mom are going.

It's a rainy day here in Durham. Would love to be curled up on the couch next to George, with a good book and a cup of hot chocolate right now!

Good appointment

I enjoyed my appointment with the dietician yesterday. Her office was in the Endocrinology Clinic over in Duke South, which was convenient to work, and made sense long-term. I enjoyed telling her about the Rice Diet and showing her my weight loss results and blood work. Turns out she is also a certified diabetes educator. She had some good ideas about nutritional label reading and eating out, among other things. I would like to have another appointment with her later, after I've left the Rice Diet.

Learning better nutrition

This afternoon, I have an appointment with a Registered Dietician. The appointment was made before I started the Rice Diet, but I decided to go ahead and keep the appointment. Things I've read about diabetic health care suggest including a nutritionist or dietician on your health care team. Eventhough I know what I'm eating for the forseeable future, I'd like to meet with a dietician and see what it's like. It would be nice to develop a professional relationship with someone who can give good nutritional advice.

I was just looking at the American Dietetic Association website, and it's can be challenging to go through an accredited dietetic program in college, at least for the science-challenged like me! Several science courses required, not surprising. In a way I wish I could do it, though, take the courses and all. I've become much more interested in the chemistry of food and how it affects the body and health, since landing in the hospital back in July. Thankfully, the internet has lots of information, but that can also be a bad thing!

Happy Birthday, Chubby Checkers!

Today is Chubby Checker's birthday! He's 65 years old. In honor of his famous song, "The Twist," here's a list of songs (in no particular order) that make me happy when I hear them:




1. "The Twist," by Chubby Checkers


2. "Crocodile Rock," by Elton John


3. "September," by Earth, Wind, and Fire


4. "Old Days," by Chicago


5. "Your Smiling Face," by James Taylor


6. "Mockingbird," by Carly Simon and James Taylor


7. "Joy to the World," by Three Dog Night


8. "Dancing in the Streets," by Martha and the Vandellas


9. "Respect," by Aretha Franklin


10. "New Attitude," by Patti LaBelle

11. "Pink Cadillac" by Aretha Franklin

Cross country trail

Yesterday after dinner at the Rice House, I walked on the Duke Cross Country Trail for half an hour. It's soooo pretty there, lots of trees, a creek, and woodland sounds. It's a 5K trail in Duke Forest, which also goes by part of the Duke Golf Course at the Washington Duke Inn and Golf Club. I'm looking forward to being able to run the whole thing. There are some good hills on the course, a great workout and training for 5K and 10K road races.