Pix of Kid and Bunny

Finally downloaded some pictures from my camera, so this posting is just a catch-up!

This first and second pictures were taken on October 31, Halloween! It was the first time my Kid had been sledding. Ever, if I'm remembering correctly. This is the hill outside of our tiny temporary apartment, and he borrowed the sled from the other kids out there sledding.

We have since bought our own sleds, but haven't had a chance to use them. I had a really bad accident sledding when I was 6 and refuse to ever get on one again. So I'm not the one to go out with the Kid if he wants company. I'm hoping there will be a good sledding hill at our new house. Would be great. Can just imagine the Kid sledding down a hill with a dog racing alongside. Ah. Bliss.

This third pic was taken on his 13th birthday (first week in Nov)... the Kid, me and Hubby went to Amazing Jakes. No, Smiley's Fun Center. Argh... I'd forgotten to take pictures while we were inside. It was our 3rd year in a row going here for his birthday, and every year, it was under new management. This year was the worst.... bad food, almost nothing for my gluten-free kid to eat. Higher prices. Most of the rides and games were closed for repairs. We did manage to play miniature golf, and had a great time! Have already told him that we're not doing this next year ... too long of a drive, not worth the money, and, well, he's kinda outgrowing this kind of thing anyway. We'll find something else to do. Maybe we'll meet some like-minded families with similar-aged kids in our new neighborhood. (Note that Hubby is sitting in the car.)

And here's a picture of Blanca Bunny. She's our Ruby-Eyed French Angora Rabbit, born June 14 (or 16th?). She'll be ready to be mated by the time we settle into our new house. Notice the orange patch on her chest - she'd just eaten some carrots and oftentimes, she gets it all over her. Usually gone by next feeding because she's fastidious about cleaning herself, as with most rabbits. And yes, there are baby play rings in the background, which she loves to play with.

She sits so pretty, doesn't she? We've moved her from the living room to the garage since this pic was taken, and it's quite a bit colder there. She's just fine, although we have a heater come on when the temp dips into the 40's. The move has also mellowed her out. Quite a happy little bunny now.

Eating Habits CAN be Changed

Yes, I know it's only Day 2 of my new "diet" (geez, I hate that word) but I'm doing just fine. Yesterday, here's what I had:

Breakfast: 3 GF apple cinnamon waffles with honey
Lunch: 20 rice crackers with peanut butter
Snack: handful of pecans
Dinner: GF pizza w/pesto, chicken, artichokes, onions, provolone
Snack: dark chocolate Hershey bar
Drinks: 1 quart of herbal tea, then 1 quart of instant decaf tea

Remember, my goal was to go gluten-free and increase movement. I exercised twice yesterday. Not vigorously because of being on such a heavy period, but still.... I increased my movement.

Today, for breakfast, I had a handful of pecans. A couple hours later, I had an apple. Then around lunchtime, I cooked up some bacon for all of us (and put some in the crockpot with the split peas and garlic) so I ate my third of what I fried. I ate a dark chocolate Hershey bar a little bit ago (that ole chocolate craving!), however, I'm still hungry so I think I'll get a snack of carrots, or maybe some cheese and crackers.

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It's still cold today, but clear. Perhaps a little chilly to sit on the verandah. Today would be perfect for having a fire going in a rustic stone fireplace, curled up with a snoring dog, a large mug of hot herbal tea, snuggled in my grandmother's afghan, and reading a good book.

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Hubby's off today (his last vacation day of the year) so he's taken a walk down to the library to pick up several books I'd reserved. I have to finish working on the Kid's schoolwork for 2010 (8th grade), and needed reference books on dating and relationships, manners and etiquette, and other things. Plus I can't find the box with his 2010 classic literature books, so I reserved Robin Hood and Watership Down to start him off next week. WD probably first. I loved that book, and remember writing a sequel to it. Mother lost it years ago. Bummer.

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We have no plans for New Year's Eve or Day. Just taking one day at a time.... resisting the urge to make regular brownies, or text Hubby to bring home a pack of cigarettes. Yes, bad news. I still have the urge to smoke. Haven't smoked since I gave it up before I got married 3 years ago, but I still crave in times of stress. This is definitely a time of stress: family problems, trying to get pregnant in the midst of perimenopause, waiting to buy a mini-homestead, conflict between Hubby and my Son, and now.... giving up gluten. It's not that I eat a ton of bread, just that it's a mental thing.

I know from experience that when I eat gluten items, my skin breaks out (called "dermatitis herpetiformis") and my hormones go wonky. In order to adjust my hormones so that I start cycling regularly so that I ovulate and possibly get pregnant, I HAVE to give up gluten. I just keep telling myself... bread and burgers and brownies OR a baby. Which is more important.

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I tried to read Sarah Palin's book the other day. Hubby brought it home from the library. BORING! Right wing. Anti-choice. Obvious errors in memory, recollection, etc. I couldn't force myself to read past the first few pages; just skimmed the rest. Made me almost sick. Send it back to the library today with Hubby. Not worth wasting my time. Would rather take a nap!

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I found a bunch of new recipes to try for while we're on this diet. And yes, while I'm following this regimen, Hubby has to too. Well, kinda. Gluten-free products are kinda expensive so he gets wheat buns for sloppy joes while I get potato chips or corn chips.

He's back. What books has he brought me?

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GF = gluten-free

My Kid's Thoughts for the movie Ice Age 3

Although my Kid is 13, he loves cartoon movies. He spends a lot of time thinking about plots for the next ones. And even tho Ice Age 3 is more than in the works (looks like it's almost completed!), the Kid wrote a letter and asked that it be sent to the producers so that can make some changes he thought of. Here's an excerpt of the letter we mailed out Monday, December 22 2009:

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T0: 20th Century Fox Studios
Attn: Director Carlos Saldanha

I have a few ideas for your new Ice Age movie. I think that you should change the name from The Thaw to Past in the Present, because "thaw" is the same as "meltdown", sort of. Also, I think Scrat should finally eat up his acorn, and have a relationship with Scratte (put her in the movie, too). Let them have a family of their own!

Let Peaches get kidnapped by humans. Let human kids help the herd. Let Manny tell his life story about how he met Emily (who I'm calling Manny's first wife), them growing up together, Emily having Pan (who I'm calling Manny's son), and finally, how they died. Let Ellie sing a song or two. Finally, let them get into a spaceship, travel to a wormhole, travel to the Ice Age, and let them get out and have the ship blown to smithereans (sic). Oh, also, I want to see Manny and Ellie tip over a truck by accident when they leavve the museum for the first time.

From: Weslee

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Ice Age 3 / Cast:

Ray Romano - (Manny)
John Leguizamo - (Sid)
Denis Leary - (Diego)
Simon Pegg - (Buck)
Queen Latifah - (Ellie)

There's more to his letter, including drawings on the back of the hand-written letter. You get the gist. He loves thinking up plots, and even has ideas for the next Dr. Seuss movie (attention Mike Myers and Jim Carey!!!)

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Hey, actors and other people associated with Ice Age 3! Would you like to write my Kid and give your thoughts about his ideas? He'd love to hear from all of you, especially Queen Latifah (I think he has a crush on you - but don't you dare tell him I wrote this!). E-Mail me and Weslee (the Kid): vikkibooks at yahoo . com . He would love to make movies or video games, and although we can't afford the software and equipment at this time, we hope perhaps next Christmas?!?!

Ok...

Done! Vikki