Walking, Swelling & Trudging On

I'm doin' it, I'm out there walking, walking, walking. My hands could audition as floats in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, since apparently I eat too much salt. Seriously? My fingers swell up like sausages just because I'm walking?! Oh well, by morning I'll be able to get my rings off, not like I'll take them off anyway. I'm up to 3 1/2 miles. During the first half mile, I think "Wow, I'm feeling great!" A half mile later, "Maybe I'll only go two miles today..." So, I trick myself with: "Just get ____ far and you can be done."  But, I make the 3 1/2. My goal is 5 mi before the end of May, but it's getting pretty warmish out there. Cousin Doris said she'll kick my butt if I can't keep up with her in Europe. Pretty strong motivation, she's a marathoner. Eeek, give me strength!

A tribute to my one visit to New Orleans (it was awesome!)

http://patlayton.net/2010/11/just-in-time-for-christmas-black-and-white-bread-pudding/

This truly decadent (no, really, it was obscene) dessert was requested for an early Mardi Gras party last weekend. It was fab, not so much due to me, I just followed the recipe. Dark chocolate, heavy cream, white chocolate, heavy cream, french bread, heavy cream...you get the idea. I'd link you to the recipe, but it's not on the web. However, I found it on a blog, and since I don't know all the rules of this blogging business yet, I guess I can share it. It's definitely worth making.

And so it begins...

THIS is my year. The year of living dangerously. Well, not "skydiving" dangerously (which just the thought of makes me sweat). Let's say "adventurously" instead. New places, new foods, new wines, new (and ALWAYS old) friends. With not a single kid in the house, I'm finding that this isn't such a bad deal. I like eating at 7 pm, after I've been to the gym (for my OWN class!); and maybe I only want cheese and crackers. I can do that now. Don't get me wrong, I LOVED running kids to religion classes, boy scouts, girls scouts, wrestling, baseball, football games, volleyball and band, but this is pretty cool. Twenty five years ago, pregnant with my first baby, I knew this day would come. What I didn't know was how quickly it would get here. So, off I go, to new adventures. I have a feeling it's going to be a great ride.