Week Three -- Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Thursday Nov. 24

Dawn and I had a light breakfast at the condo, and then watched the Macy's parade as is our tradition for the last few years. We can tell we are getting older when over half the songs and artists seem to be rap-based. Loved the Rockettes, but oh my god Tony Bennett please retire. Thanks, though, to Miss Piggy for saving him from falling off the float. With our bigger kitchen, we decided to make a homecooked meal at the condo rather than go out. We had baked a Mrs. Smith's pumpkin pie the night before. We put a Jenny-O turkey breast in the oven about 10:30 a.m., and made mashed potatoes, stuffing, green bean casserole, and cranberry sauce to go with. And of course gravy. Everything was delicious, and we played Scrabble in the afternoon. In the evening, I boiled the turkey carcass and picked it clean, and made matzo ball soup for dinner with plenty left over. It was a big day in the kitchen and we ended up doing three loads in the dishwasher.  Hope everyone had a great day and perhaps had a moment to reflect on what they are thankful for. For me, I'm thankful for another good year in the sun doing the things I love with relative good health, and accompanied by family and good friends.

Going back over the past week, here are some highlights.

Friday Nov. 18

Went to Fleamasters and bought a laundry hamper, socks, and a copy of Dan Brown's "The Lost Symbol." I went to the Walmart Market solo and bought $100 in groceries, mostly for Thanksgiving but also for some meals between now and then. The checkout lady at Walmart shorted me the pumpkin pie so had to go back ... don't you hate it when that happens? Went to the pool today and swam 20 pool lengths, doubling my normal amount. For dinner, Dawn and I had Asian slow-baked chicken legs and shrimp fried rice.

Saturday Nov. 19

Dawn is off for the weekend, but her sciatica has been acting up lately, so we are curtailing physical activities and looking for more sedate options. Today, we drove to Newton Park, which is a little gem of an ocean front park on Estero Island, about a couple miles south from all the hub-bub of the main Fort Myers beach area. We brought the cribbage board along and ate a picnic lunch secured from a Publix market across street consisting of sub sandwiches, chips, and iced tea. From there, we drove to the Norman Love chocolate cafe on Daniels Parkway and indulged in a sinful dessert and coffee.

Sunday Nov. 20

Made a deluxe breakfast of eggs, fried potatoes, sausage patties, and toast. Watched CBS Sunday morning. While Dawn rested her back and legs, I took a bike ride and made it all the way to Fort Myers Beach, 8.4 miles each way. Had to walk the uphill portion of the Matanzas bridge coming and going, but even walking that portion is a good workout because of the bridge's incline. Got back to the condo, and showered. Dawn and I went to the Fresh Market at the Bell Tower Shopping Center where Dawn hit the deli and got some chicken salad and an artichoke salad for lunch and ate it outside on their patio while I had a coffee. For dinner, I made pork chops with stuffing, Parmesan broiled yellow squash coins, and mini desserts that we bought from the Fresh Market bakery.

Monday Nov. 21

Back to work for Dawn. Sciatic nerve pain continues to bring her down. Pretty much constant pain, just differing levels throughout the day. I did a workout at Planet Fitness today, then lunch at BurgerQue, one of my faves, but I fear they are not going to make it. They're trying to be a burger place, but also a barbeque place, and I think it's too confusing for most people. I then went to Winn Dixie for a few needed supplies. I made lasagne for dinner, accompanied by one of those Dole salad kits called a "Bacon Blue" We both thought there was too much cabbage in the greens mix.

Tuesday Nov. 22

Did a walking lap around Lakes Park this a.m., about 1.25 miles door to door. Ran some errands including the hardware store where I got a replacement handle to fix one of the lids to our pots and pans set. Didn't realize they made replacement handles for those; I was prepared to buy a drawer pull and jury rig it. Lunch was at DJ Chinese on Tamiami Trail between College and Cypress Lake, which Dawn and I have decided serves the best Chinese food around. Cashew chicken in white sauce, with eggroll and pork fried rice, all for $7.95 making it one of the best lunch deals around. More swimming in the afternoon. For dinner, I made salmon with chili-lime glaze, asparagus, and rice pilaf.

Wednesday Nov. 23

Big day today! Dawn was offered (and accepted) her job as admin assistant as a permanent position with the city of Fort Myers. She will not be working for the temp agency any longer, and will receive a boost in hourly wage as well as full city employee benefits which includes 100 percent paid healyh insurance premiums. I am so very proud of her. For me, today was Farmers' Market day at Lakes Park, so I began the day there and met up with my bicycle club friends. I had a pumpkin cream cheese muffin and a half-pint box of sweet red cherries. I biked over to the park, so when finished with food and chatting with my friends, I hopped back on my bicycle and rode Six Mile Cypress to the trailhead for the John Yarborough trail, and rode that to the end and back, a 16-mile round trip ride. I forgot to put on my sunblock, and so got a little roasted. For dinner, we had leftover lasagna, and I made us each a wedge salad of iceberg lettuce, bleu cheese and French dressings, and nice big pieces of bacon that I cooked in the microwave. It was one of the most delicious salads we've had.

Thursday Nov. 24

I reported the Thanksgiving Day festivities earlier, but Thursday is also weigh-in day for me, and I'm happy to report I dropped another two pounds, from 259 to 257. Looking forward to breaking the 250 mark.

Bruce