It's been a while.

My friends are visiting this weekend. The first time I met them, I wonder whether I knew I would still love them eight years later. I met them all in El Salvador, Central America. After I left El Salvador, I wrote about what it felt like to be changed by a place and when I look at my friends after 8 years of feeling like they're my brothers and sisters, I know that it wasn't just the place that made me who I am today.

Izzybeeeee

Last night we visited our niece Isabel. Even though it was past her bedtime, she was full of energy

Putting it all out there..

I had my third weight-loss meeting UPenn's psych department last night. On Thursday we started the lifestyle changes and I've lost 1 pound since then. One pound doesn't seem like a lot, but I'm actually pretty proud of that.

Recording everything I eat is a pretty empowering experience for me because it helps me control what I put in my body. At the end of the day, I can look and see everything I've consumed. Normally, I can't remember what I had for breakfast by the time I go to bed.

I'm battling the hunger pangs and the bad moods related to the hunger pangs, but I know that in time, that will get easier and as my stomach shrinks the hunger pangs will occur less and less frequently.

Thursday I weighed 253.8 and last night I weighed 252.8 (ahhhh...yes, I said it! Putting it all out there!)

Aaron and I took some "before" pictures, but I was in my bra and spandex shorts. Not sure that I'm ready to broadcast my bare belly all over the internet, so here's the most recent full-body picture of me at 253.8:




I'm on my way.

My Way

I've been salivating over Modo Mio for months -- my brother told us about their "best of Philly" Menu Turista and it's in the neighborhood. Last night a combo of irresponsibility and hunger kicked in and despite the fact that we don't have a lot of cash right now, Aaron and I grabbed a bottle of Cab and went over (we called at 8:15 and were seated at 8:30).

Our server rocked. I think she's my favorite in the city. I wish I got her name!! She was mostly hands-off (I don't like servers who hover), but was very knowledgeable and excited about the food...can't blame her!

Everything we had was perfect...the warm house baked bread with lemon and cheese spread, the complimentary starter (some kind of bread with cheese, apple and honey..mmmm...), antipasti, pasta, entree, dessert...

Yum yum -- everyone should go! I think this is a great place for a date, but probably even better with a group of friends and a few bottles of wine. Definitely make a reservation if you're going on the weekend.

The only problem now is that I'm supposed to be writing down everything I eat for 7 days (not on the diet yet, just whatever I normally eat) and I have NO CLUE how many calories I consumed. I guess I could just write down "What I ate: a gluttonous feast. # of calories: MANY!!" because that's the way I felt when I crawled into bed for the night.

Getting ready for the holidays

Things have been pretty busy here in Memphadelphia.

Friday night Aaron and I had dinner at The Nodding Head Brewery on Sansom Street. The baked brie is delish and their own Zephyr was enjoyable, but miserable-ness ensued. I am sad that we had to go home early because so many friends wanted to hang out! Next time...

Work has been pretty nuts lately. One of our hospitals is gearing up for a 3-day strike because the for-profit company who owns the facility is being totally evil (scheduling and not showing up for bargaining sessions, proposing 400% increases in what workers pay out of pocket for healthcare, etc.) So I've been pitching in and making some phone calls to help out my coworkers. I really like these workers - they're pretty strong! I always get super creeped out about any company that's for-profit in health care. It should be for-patients! Yet another example of why we need reform in this country!!

My family's thanksgiving is this Saturday. I'm in charge of the scalloped corn and Aaron is making his world-famous (er, famous to the few people who've tasted it) pumpkin roll, a Central PA holiday favorite.My fam always does holidays on days that are not the actual holiday so that everyone can hang out with their in-laws on the actual holiday. I think this is a great system that should be replicated in familes all across North America.

Speaking of Thanksgiving, my oldest friend Helga appeared on a Food Network Thanksgiving Special last night. Here she is - I'm so proud!



That's all for now, friends and lovers.

Stay at home Dad

Today in Memphadelphia:

"I think I figured out what I want to be."

"Really? What's that?"

"A stay-at-home-dad."

"Oh yeah, how's that going to work?"

"We can be stay-at-home parents and make money off the kids."

"What will we make them do?"

"I don't know, street performing at first and then maybe they'll land a commercial...something on local TV before they move up to the big leagues. If they're good enough, maybe we'll only have to sacrifice one or two of them."

Cochabamba en mi casa

I walked into my apartment after a long drive home from beautiful Scranton, Pennsylvania to find what looked like a Bolivian male in my front room.

A couple things tipped me off to the man's ethnicity -- a distinctive woolen hat with tassels on the top and sides and an Andean alpaca poncho. It was startling to find his kind so far from home.

The alleged Bolivian fed me some of his local cuisine -- Ramen noodles and strawberry banana yogurt with Honeycombs.

When Aaron read the beginning of this blog over my shoulder, he offered an explanation (he likes to explain things): It was perfect poncho weather in here when I got home. When questioned about the hat, he replied: It's part of the ensemble.

I love my husband.