A Smaller Target

Less Than Twenty-Four Hours to London

Weight: 192

After a weekend spent caretaking an elderly friend so his wife could have a bit of a break (they have a pool so it's been fun as well as a bit challenging), Pablo and I are off tomorrow for a trip to Britain. Though we're only going to be their two weeks, the time seems packed with an almost disorienting combination of visits with relatives and friends and a trip to the Edinburgh festival.

I'm not planning on bringing my laptop -- my mac powerbook is a creaky 10 this year and I can't justify the 8 pounds of excess weight (maybe Santa will bring me a macbook air) so my internet access will be only as frequent as I can pry Paul's laptop out of his selfish, hard and large hands.

It's been a great weekend though.  My birthday present finally came. It's a new bike -- a hot pink Hello Kitty beach cruiser (picture here -- you can click for a larger version).  It's even cooler in person and speaks to my Hello Kitty desires which I will try and remember to write to you about another time. 

Sadly, I've barely had a chance to actually ride it yet and only just around the block, but whenever he's missing me, Paul goes into our friend's garage and finds me stroking it in a loving yet slightly disturbing fashion.

Anyway, we're about to leave for London as I write this.  I'm bringing a journal so with any luck I'll be able to write some dispatches as computer and 'net access allows.  In any case, if I go silent for a few weeks, you now know where I am.  If you miss me, tell Paul to share his computer.  (Note: he's not selfish.  We share everything else.  But our computers seem to be a share too far.

Blimey! England in August

Weight: 193

You know how it is.  The exchange rate dollar to pound is worse than it been for most of my lifetime.  Airfares at record highs.  And August is high season for travel to the UK.  What does this mean? 

Paul and I are going, of course.  The reasons are involved, but they have to do with his family.  I was dreading the trip at first, mostly for the expense but also because of the time involved.  Now that we have tickets ($1400 RT by STA on Air New Zealand and trust me that was the best fare by far) and are starting to make plans, I'm feeling really excited about it. 

The trip's coming up fast too.  We'll be gone for two weeks (that's all I can be away) from August 5 - 19.

Oh, and the little video below was one that made me laugh so hard that iced freedom bag water almost came out my nose.  It would have, except I wasn't drinking at the time.  (A side note is that it's filmed all around West LA so I was busy noticing what locations were used when.)  Enjoy!

http://view.break.com/530967 - Watch more free videos

Unexpected Road Trip

I'm probably going to be quiet for a couple of days.  I'm taking a weekend road trip with my dad from LA to Portland leaving this afternoon.  We'll be back Sunday night.

He's somewhat impulsively decided to sell his Tahoe and get a smaller car.  Because the truck is still registered in Portland, they still officially live there and Oregon has no sales tax, it makes sense to him to take the truck up there and buy the car up there.  Plus he'll get to spend the holiday weekend with my mother. 

Great, but the trip is 16 hours each way.  That's a long way to drive alone and the idea of him doing it was freaking my mom out.   Me too actually when I heard about it.  In a perfect world Paul or my brother could go and share the driving.  We don't live in a perfect world and work keeps either of them from being able to sign onto this adventure.  I don't drive but I can go and be a good passenger.  So that's what I'm doing.  After work today, Sacramento here I come.  W00T!

And no, I'm not just doing this because I'm a good daughter.  I'm doing it partly because this impulsive decision is my fault at least in part (though I haven't told my mother).  You see, when he and I were walking on Santa Monica Pier Sunday, I mentioned that my very small carbon footprint (I take the bus and walk everywhere) probably means our family is breaking even despite his 14 mile per gallon gas guzzler.   

Yeah.

I'll have to remember that he listens to me sometimes.  O the power!

From PDX

Weight: 171 (on my parents too kind scale)

Paul and I are on the O-Too-Early United flight from Portland back to Los Angeles.  Ironically, my mom left yesterday to meet Eloise's flight from Ohio. As you may recall, Eloise is having spinal surgery sometime next week at Cedars.

We were met in line at the United check-in by a very nice employee who told us our flight was delayed by about an hour.  This is surprising -- one of the pluses of being on the first flight out in the morning is that the planes are generally on-time or early -- but oddly didn't really bother either of us.  This is partly because we both like being early for flights as it makes life less stressful.  Partly though it's because among its many virtues, Portland has a wonderful airport.

It's not great architecture or anything that makes it so, though it does have lots of windows looking out at the planes.  Paul likes that in an airport as he can spend hours watching planes take -off and land.  It's because they seem to have worked hard to create a pretty civilized environment here.  There's free wireless throughout the airport (which I'm using to write this) that's a breeze to set up and requires no password or anything more than simply having a wireless card in my laptop.  The chairs are pretty comfortable and there's plenty of them.  And the city of Portland has passed a very civilized law saying that vendors (stores and food) cannot charge more at the airport locations then they do in the rest of the city. 

After spending $5 on a Starbucks' latte at LAX, I can't tell you how great this is.  But trust me, it's pretty great.

And hey, did I mention the free wireless?

On My Way Home

Weight: dunno, but I may have gained

After a weekend spent with my father, I'm headed home from my parents' place (aka The House o' Carb);  I've had a great time, but it wasn't exactly a good time for my eating (fun though!).  My mom is visiting Eloise in Ohio so it was great to get to spend some time with my dad.  Usually days spent with him are totally packed, but he'd come back from celebrating in Ohio (my mom turned 60! this past week) with a nasty little cold.  So we stayed kind of quiet, watched TV, talked and ate soup. 

And shopped.  My dad isn't exactly typical in that he loves (really loves) shopping.  Even for clothes.  So he bought me a new suit (black pants, yellow jacket on sale at Meier & Frank's) for a wedding I have to attend this coming weekend.  It's cute and has a spring feel.  And is a size 12!  We also found a little black  Evan Picone dress at Jones of New York that had been marked from $90 down to $19.  It was a little snug on me (it's also a size 12) but I think control top pantyhose will take care of that.  Plus how can you leave a deal like that?  I love the style too.  Maybe I'll wear it for my one year photos (coming up).

I also bought a pile of backpacking books at Powell's (the best book store on the planet as far as I'm concerned).  Part of me is really attracted to the idea of celebrating my finishing graduate school next summer with doing a long distance backpacking trip.  I bought a book on hiking the Pacific Crest Trail that runs up the western mountain ranges from the boarder of Mexico to the boarder of Canada.  I know I couldn't do the whole thing --it's about 2500 miles-- but maybe I could do a 10th.  Or something. 

Anyway, that's where I'm at just now -- waiting for my flight to board at PDX (yay Portland and your free wireless!).  Tomorrow I'll have to face the scale and see if I did any damage with my weekend carb fest.  But whatever the scale says, I'm wearing a size 12 - 14 now.  Remember when a 24 was thrilling for me?  It wasn't so very long ago.

Mind boggling thought of the day?  In addition to being the shortest member of my family, I'm now the lightest. 

Who'd have thought?

Packing It In?

Weight 193.4

Lisa Freemont and I are supposed to leave tomorrow for a backpacking trip.  It feels like we're going in that I've bought stuff for the said trip, including a dandy combination whistle, matchsafe and compass (it was included in an emergency kit from the local military surplus shop).  I also have a sack full of warm clothes I snagged from Goodwill.  Both of us are really really into the idea of getting out of the city for a few days and sleeping in a tent together (yes, she does know about possible gas issues).

But the front page of the LA Times this morning reads "Storm Sweeps Snow Into Southland."  We're really both cold wimps, both of us getting chilly in our homes in Southern California. Meantime, Lisa's not sure if her sleeping bag is warm enough.  I'm lucky in that I fit into her husband's mummy bag, looking apparently like nothing so much as Frodo after his encounter with Shelob.  Paul's response on coming into the room while I was trying out the bag was "Please Mr. Frodo, don't go where I can't follow."

So for the last few days we've had phone conversations that consist of reading the weather reports to each other and worry about the snow and rain reports.  Our trip has already moved from the Sierras down to the coastal mountains near Santa Barbara.  The snow level is currently at 2500 feet.  We're taking a trail that's at 2200.  Hence our worries.  I also worry about camping in the mud and am not too sure about boots that I paid less than $20 for.  Personally I think we both want to go, but neither of us wants to be responsible if the trip is a disaster. Yet neither of us wants to cancel either. 

So I think we're going.  As I said to Lisa this morning, this trail leads from someone's backyard in Ojai and we're not going too many miles (less than 15) out.  How bad can it be?  (Famous last words).  Can you tell I want to go?  But I wonder at my sanity.  I haven't been backpacking in almost 20 years.

Meantime, there's my worry about having to, um, use the bathroom without having a bathroom.  Can a DS patient shit in the woods?  That's a question I haven't seen answered online anywhere. 

Back Again

Weight: 193

We got back from Vegas late last night and I spent today kind of trying to get back to normal -- that's always hard for me after trips away, even if they only last the weekend.  But things are pretty normal now, at least so much as they ever are. 

In Vegas I saw some friends that hadn't seen me in a few years (or, in one case, about 4 months).  It was strange, some recognized me right away.  Others either walked right by or waved but made it clear they had no idea who I was by they "deer in the headlights" response to my smiling and waving. 

The other thing I discovered in Vegas is that if I chose to stay completely off simple carbs (okay, but with a few bites of dessert), I can basically be sure I won't have any gas to speak of.  I was pretty sure of that, but this weekend proved it.  Also, these parties are a great place to go when I want to avoid eating.  Although there was food everywhere, my mind and body weren't focused on food and I could literally stand next to bowls full of M&Ms and not eat any. 

That was cool. 

I've become convinced by friends (and Paul) that my hair looks better now than it did in the bob, and yes, I will put up a picture.  It certainly is easier, something that will probably pay off if I get to take a backpacking trip with a friend over spring break (we met today at the Coffee Bean to scheme and dream a bit about it).   I'll try and get Paul to take my picture tomorrow. 

Other Vegas news?  Paul won $140 (I think) at blackjack and I dropped 4 pounds.  ;)

Home Home Home!

Weight 212 (yup, the scale in the UK was being polite)

There's no place like home.  Especially after a 23 hour day of traveling and plane connections.  We fell into bed last night as though it were the most wonderful place in the world.  In fact, I think it was.  It was 80 degrees today in Santa Monica.  As we wandered around (after sleeping in!) I was glad we'd spent Christmas and New Years in England, but was even gladder to be back home. 

Even with work looming over my tomorrow.

We had a good time in London, visiting with friends and taking the tube to favorite places (like Goddard's pie shop.  Mmmm pie!).  One bad thing happened -- on Saturday, the day before we were leaving -- we were having coffee at Starbucks (which has SF vanilla in London now) and when we got up to leave my backpack was gone.  Someone had stolen it without either Paul or me noticing a thing. 

The good news was that I didn't lose my passport.  The bad news was that I did lose my wallet, my iPod and my lovely hand drawn satinwood hairbrush.  We did the police report (where we met a LOT of other people who'd had bags swiped) and cancelled the cards.  Tomorrow I get to start getting all of my things back. 

I was a little sad that I wasn't really weighing in at 208.  But looking back I still lost over 5 pounds during Christmas while away from  home.  Not too bad at that. 

Oh and Allan, thanks for the offer about the jeans.  I wish I'd had time to set up a small 501s business.  But it's definitely something to remember for next time!

Down to the Smoke

Weight 208 (still)

Hi everyone!  :) 

We've had a wonderful time in the northeast of England.  The highlights include a trip through Durham cathedral (really one of the most wonderful places I've ever been).  Sadly the tower was closed or we would have made the trek up the steps. 

We visited Newcastle where, at John Lewis, I got a new grey school uniform skirt (though thanks for the Lands' End tip Harriet!) and two new school shirts.  I didn't even need the largest size so am wearing the "Age 15-16" one.  Paul thinks I could have even gone one lower, but I think that's being a little optimistic.  The shirts are a size 38" chest, which makes them a long way from the largest, which is something like 48".

Paul also took me to York where we wandered around in the market town and then had lunch at Betty's (a great tea room).  I had an afternoon tea.  Where before I would have wondered if it would be enough, now I ate pretty much half of everything that came, drank all the tea and it was just right. 

The time spent with Paul's family was delightful.  They gave me a bunch of pictures of him as a child which I would scan and post if I didn't value my life.  Trust me though, they're very sweet.

This morning we leave for London where we'll be staying in Kennsington until Sunday when we leave for Los Angeles.  That means I'll be back home Sunday night.  As much as the cold and dark have made me sleepy, I've loved being up here.  It's a different pace of life that I've really enjoyed.

Hopefully we'll be able to come back this summer!

Not in Santa Monica

Weight: 208 on the scale here (!!!)

If the number above holds true, the secret to a 10 pound a week weight loss is:

• being in the UK
• having a terrible cold
• sleeping roughly 18 hours a day

This morning I'm feeling a lot better, though still a bit sniffy.  We're about to have an outing to Newcastle, today being our first wedding anniversary.  We spent Christmas and Boxing Day and then the day after with Paul's family celebrating the holiday and also his parents golden wedding anniversary.  The hotel where we stayed for the party was great -- even had a gym and spa which I used despite feeling a bit ill.  I did push a little too hard though that night and stayed in a smokey bar which I think was the final straw as far as my cold was concerned.  It came out full force in the middle of that night.

Then yesterday, on the way home, there was a terrible car accident right in front of us.  A car spun out on the ice and then tumbled across the road.  Fortunately the truck (or lorry as they're called here) was able to stop in time.  And it seemed like everyone was okay.  But it was a long wait for the firemen and ambulence and I said a lot of prayers for the woman who was the driver and her mother (still trapped in the car).   

This morning I woke up to fresh snow and the sheep grazing on dried grass and hay in the meadow behind the house.   

Ezpy, this is definitely not Santa Monica.