Baby announcement!

Yes, can you believe it, after all this time, I am an aunt again.

Ha! Gotcha.



My new niece Kimberly Alanna Fisher was born on Wednesday, May 21 in Boston at 1:49PM. She weighed in much less than her 13 lb brother at 9lb 4oz, and is 19.5inches long.



Doesn't she have the best cheeks ever? Anyways, mom and baby are doing fine and all is well in the great city of Boston. Not sure when she is going to have her great coming out party, but when she does you'll be posted.

Cha-cha-changes...

So since the last entry, i.e. April 28 2008, I have cut out or limited some things from my daily food intake, and I have to say, I have never felt better in my entire life and I do not feel as if I am wanting for anything. In the past, at least twice a day I would have a "crash", i.e., Rebecca turns into the Wicked Witch of Connecticut and has a meltdown due to low blood sugar and needs to eat NOW, not in 5 minutes but NOW.. like what part of NOW do you not understand? It was difficult for myself as well as those around me. I have not had a "crash" since I changed my diet. It's really amazing.

Things I have cut out 100% as of April 28 2008:
-Beef
-Chicken
-Pork
-Turkey
-Duck
-Buffalo
-Caffeine
-Splenda and other substitutes
-Snacks such as potato chips and cookies

Things I have limited in my intake:
-Dairy; milk, cheese, yogurt, etc.
-Eggs (I only eat them if they exist in the commodity I am eating such as bread)
-White sugar (I only eat it if it exists in the commodity I am eating)

Things I have incorporated more of:
-Unsalted roasted nuts; cashews, almonds, walnuts, peanuts
-Whole grains
-Brown rice
-Seeds; flax, sunflower
-Organics*
-Daily Multi Vitamin that contains folic acid, iron and B12
-Better oils such as safflower and coconut
-Decaf green tea
-Clover or Wildflower Honey

* http://www.foodnews.org
This website contains a pretty good list of foods that can help guide you as to which ones are safest as far as pesticide usage goes. We all know buying Organic can be more expensive, so this is a way to assist you in making smarter choices both for your health and for your wallet. For example, Peaches are by far the dirtiest non-organic food out there, where as onions are the cleanest. So, knowing which is which can save you money and keep you healthier in the long run.

Bitchin'

I know, I know..it's been a while. I've been busy having an epiphany.

Skinny Bitch and Skinny Bitch in the Kitch, by Rory Freedman and Kim Barnouin...

Have seriously impacted me in a way I thought I'd never be hit.

This is exactly how I needed someone to talk to me about food. I need shit said straight out sometimes for it to make any sort of impact on my stubborn Sicilian Scorpio brain. I cry about it, because it hurts and I don't like it and I'm spoiled, and then I suck it up and get over it. No one's going to do it for me.

This book has made me laugh, want to throw up and cry all at the same time. No I am not PMS-ing. Go to your local town library and take out the book. Read it. You'll see what I mean.

All these changes I want to make. I want to make them NOW. But wait. I have a red blooded American Construction Manager living here as well..how can I sneak him vegan cheese? He's going to know! Small changes I suppose shall pave the way for bigger and better changes along the way, they HAVE to, because I refuse to cook two different meals for dinner each night. I need to find ways to make veggies and what not be manly-man food!

Food for thought...

So I did it. I broke down and went. Yes. Whole Foods now has my undivided attention and the Anderson's are attempting to go organic. Although I'm not really sure if Jeff's new obsession with this store is the gorgeous produce or that there was a Bentley in the parking lot. Either way, I now have permission to have Whole Foods adventures.

The first day we went was this past Sunday..sort of a fact finding mission. We ended up gorging ourselves on the prepared foods area. The tofu with the sesame seeds on it was particularly good as was the eggplant parmesan and the roasted cauliflower.

Yesterday was my initiation. My God..I felt like I was in another country. All these brands I never heard of before. Well some were familiar, but like 95% I had never seen. I had to weigh out my grains and beans in bulk, kinda nice, in an old fashioned sort of way. Although I think I bought way too many Navy Beans. So the grocery cart was mostly filled with experiments such as: Multi Grain Tandoori style side dish, Key Lime Rice, Annie's Bunny Love cereal (so cute!), Goat's milk, edamame, bison, skyr, quinoa and polenta to name a few.

Initial reactions to the foods we have eaten so far...
Multi Grain Tandoori: I liked it, a lot. Jeff decided he is allergic to soy beans. We'll see..
Annie's Bunny Love: I bought this for me. Nice and sweet, but not too sweet. Stays crunchy in the milk, and was quite satisfying.
Goat's milk: ooo...you can certainly tell these animals had been eating a very very green grass diet. Wow. Not sure if I like the milk as much as I like the cheese. Needs another try to be sure.
Bison: I have eaten this before, so it was no surprise to me. Jeff says he likes regular old beef better, however, at a fat content of nearly 0%, I think we need to stick with the Bison. Maybe I can figure out a way to season it so he will like it better.
Taleggio Cheese: Italy's answer to Brie as it turns out. I was able to spread it nicely on some ciabatta. However, it is majorly stinky, and even after 5 hand washings my fingers still smelled like what you may think Wayne Gretzky's skate liners smelled like after double overtime.
Skyr: Icelandic yogurt. Very similar to Greek yogurt, fat free, and if you add some honey to it, it tastes like soft serve vanilla custard. You feel like you are being a bad girl, but in reality you are getting a huge pack of protein. I read it takes 3 times as much milk to make one carton of skyr than to make regular yogurt.

Not really sure what to do with the quinoa. I may just cook it up, let it cool and make a nice salad out of it with some red peppers, parsley and whatnot. Almost like a tabule but not really. Any ideas are appreciated! One thing I do know about quinoa is that if there is a hole in your bag, this stuff can get everywhere..it's perfectly round and can bounce! Dear God I made a mess. I'll probably make croûtons out of the polenta.

One thing I did notice is, just because it is all natural and organic does not necessarily mean it is religiously good for you. You really do need to read the labels. For example; a brand of margarine had more fat content than butter! I was shocked. 11 grams of fat per serving. At that rate, I'd eat the butter! Also, there are some things that we do use that I just can't find there and will never find there, given they aren't exactly natural. Like my fat free carnation coffee creamer and my kitty litter. Ah, such is life. Small price to pay I suppose.

If anyone has any suggestions on things to buy there or how to use certain ingredients such as bulgar wheat, flax seeds and the like, please toss them my direction.

eXaCtLy!

Yes, well as you may (or may not) have noticed, I haven't updated in a while. Well I've been away. Sorry. Also, for those of you who have been spared reading for 15 minutes per entry, guess what? All good things must come to an end! I have 8 days of vacation and a couple days of hell to talk about!

So, go, yes go, get yourself a snack and a beverage of choice, and prepare to enter the March 2008 Edition of the Vacation Timeline of Jeff & Rebecca Anderson.


March 5 2008

12:15PM
Harley goes to Kitty Camp!

6:00PM
We load the car and ensure all nonessential appliances, lamps, etc. are unplugged. Water is turned off, heat is at 60F, timer is attached to the living room lamp, and all the shades are drawn. All systems GO.

7:00PM
We need gas and we are in Danbury on 84E heading towards JFK via the Whitestone Bridge. I have been saying we should get gas for the past hour. It will be more expensive the closer we get to New York State. These statements ricochet around the car, never hitting their intended target. We leave the highway, and find a Mobil. I say this isn't where we usually stop, we go to the station next door. *echo* We fill up at $2.37 per gallon. As we pull out we notice the station right next door is $2.20 per gallon. Why didn't you tell me to go there? *shrug*

7:30PM
HUNGER.
R: Let's stop at the next place.
J: No, let's go a few more.
R: What if there aren't any more? Let's just stop.
J: No.
R: $2.37....
J: OK.

9:30PM-ish
Hotel by JFK. Yay! Vacation is almost really here! *snore*

March 6 2008

4:30AM
*look at the clock* I'm so excited and force myself to go back to sleep.

5:30AM
*look at the clock*
Screw it, I'm getting up. The sooner I am up the sooner vacation starts! Shower and get dressed, repack the suitcases and head to breakfast.
I have to say on a side note here that the Comfort Inn really does have a nice breakfast for their guests in the morning. Fruits, pastries, cereals, juices, coffee, make-your-own-waffles, bagels, and so on. I mean, if you were comparing that hotel and one of a similar price without the provided breakfast, why would you not stay there? I highly recommend them.

7:00AM
After we finally find a spot (A14) in Long Term Parking at JFK, we are sitting on the AirTran heading to Terminal 8 for American Airlines International Departures/Arrivals. WOOHOO!

7:10AM
We arrive at ticketing and self-check ourselves in. But we still need to go to the counter to get ourselves assigned an Exit Row. Jeff is 6 foot 1 and being squished in the regular coach seating is just not an option, especially for a 4:45 hour flight. No problem getting assigned and all is well. Time to head for Security.

7:30AM
It's funny how you can always spot the Americans in an international TSA checkpoint. We are the ones who are undressing as the line goes forward. Belts, necklaces, bracelets, shoes, loose change, etc. And sometimes I still beep due to my belly ring. Always fun to get the extra pat-down. Line is moving wicked fast. This time I went through with flying colors, unlike the lady in front of my who thought she could take some Extra Crunchy Skippy with her in her carry-on. What planet is she from?

8:00AM
We have Starbucks in hand and are sitting waiting impatiently to board. I am entertained by a 3 year old toddler who just felt the need to say, "Hello" to every one. He was like a miniature politician. So cute in his airplane sweater, khakis and bucks!

8:45AM
BOARDING!

9:35AM
AIRBORNE!

10:15ish AM
At cruising altitude. Jeff and I remark to each other that this has all gone way too smoothly. I mean, doesn’t something completely whacked out happen to us every time we go on vacation? We began rehashing the past 7 years of our lives.. so far the winner was the time we went to Aruba and it took us 5 planes (Hartford-Philly-Tampa Bay-West Palm Beach-San Juan-Aruba) and 2 days to get there, plus the luggage got lost. Ahh, good times. At least we got to see the Natural Bridge before it collapsed!


3:35PM local time
TOUCHDOWN! For those of you who have never been, this airport is pretty neat. You disembark on the tarmac, kinda makes you feel famous. Since our last visit much has been done to improve the Sir Grantley Adams International Airport. Gone are the wooden hovels, cracked walk ways, and zero air conditioning. We go through customs and get our stamp and head to baggage. Grab the bags without much fuss and walk outside to find our waiting driver from Blue Trident Tours to take us to our hotel. The sign reads, "Amdersom", eh close enough we'll take it. We get in.

4:15PM
We are enroute to the Coral Lane Beach Apartments on Payne's Bay located in the Parish of St. James. We are about 2km south from the highly coveted Sandy Lane (where Tiger Woods got married) and quite close to Daphne's and The Cliff restaurants, how bad could this be? We chat with the driver and though conversation he says he'd be happy to take us to a supermarket upon our arrival, and wait for us in the lot while we shop. We tell him we'll be like 10 minutes so it's not like we're going to take up his entire evening. He says "no problem, I know this place is perfect for what you need. The fee plus wait time will be $40." To us, that sounds reasonable.

5:15PM
We finally arrive at said apartment complex after been given a non solicited tour of the island's interior. I thought we'd be driving up the coast, but instead we were treated to topsy-turvy close knit keep-the-tourist-awake island driving. We call the Mr. Thompson and tell him of our arrival, he shows up in about 10 minutes.

5:30ishPM
He leads us to the 2nd floor and shows us our room, which is still not ready for us. His dear wife is still cleaning it and we hear she has been cleaning it since about noon. Well no big deal seeing we need to pop over to the store and get some things like water, milk, juice, etc. We have a kitchenette so we plan on using it. Mrs. Thompson tells us where to go; Jordan's Supermarket, which is about 4 minutes down the road. Different place than what the driver mentioned. No biggie, $40 BDS is like $20 US so we didn't care. We go.

6:10PM
Back on the taxi and back to Coral Lane. We get there, driver holds his hand out for the fare. We give him $40BDS. He said, no, $40 as in $40 US. I nearly threw up. So this guy basically wanted $80 BDS for a 30 min ride/wait. At this point we're like fuck it, we've been up for 12 hours, here's your money, thanks for the lubeless ass rape and get out of our faces. Have a nice night!

6:15PM
In the room. Finally able to see it for the first time. Uh, yeah. if you had clicked on the provided link above in the 4:15PM time slot, you'd see the Coral Lane Beach Apartments. Make note of how clean, fresh, shiny and new it all seems to be, well except for the VAX like thing in the corner.
I have 2 words for that: FALSE ADVERTISING.
We unpack the food, and I lay down on the bed..*boing*
The bed was like a slingshot with an egg crate on it. The comforter was one of those satin/lace jobbies that some people feel the need to match with their lacquered furniture. You know the kind. I turn down my side and am horrified of the sheets. They had been washed so many times and slept on so many times they were pilled and felt like sandpaper. *shiver* Jeff and I exchange glances and decide we need to converse about this AWAY from said apartment. So we take a walk in search of food.

6:45PM
The Roti Den. Yum. Little hut on the side of the (busy) road. I'll have the "Goat" please. We're out. Bummer. Can I have "Lamb" then? Sure. Yum. Oh, 2 Banks Beers please as well. Boy do I need a drink!

6:55PM
We sit outside on this little stone table and eat. *snap* Oh shit, there are bones in my roti. How quaint! Must be careful. Rotis rock. They are simple and filling. We chat. We both are thinking we need to find other accommodations but neither of us wants to say anything. I say, let's just give it the night, I mean we just got here. *slap* Ant crawling on my leg. Welcome to the tropics!

7:15PM
Back in the room, exhausted I flop down on the bed. The bed flops back. I feel itchy. I think maybe I need a shower to wash the travel day away. I itch my leg and find an ant carcass in my fingernails. Ew. Ok, maybe he hitch hiked from the Roti Den, I mean I do have cuffs on the bottom of my roll up cargo pants. No biggie. Itchy..on my arm. *smack* Another ant. Ok this is weird. Oh look, another on, on my pillow. Ok this can’t be little hitch hikers.
“Jeff, I have ants on me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I mean I have ants on me. I wonder where they are coming from?”
*we look around*
We note there are ant traps in the corners of the room; however, the ants are coming in, in single file from the wall near the stove. We call Mr. Thompson for assistance. He brings us bug spray. Jeff has a short conversation with him about the conditions and state that we may be leaving tonight it we can find other accommodations. They exchange words and Mr. Thompson leaves. Jeff sprays. Now not only do I have ants on me, I begin to have an asthma attack from the spray. This is no good. I open the windows to air out the room.

7:30PM
I lay back down on the bed. I see ants in the sheets. *double ew* OK I can’t stay here.
“Jeff, there are ants in the bed.”
“What?!”
“There are ants IN the bed.”
“Do you want to stay here?”
“Not really, but where are we supposed to go at this hour. Plus it’s High Season! Everyone is probably booked and we are going to pay out our noses.”
“Do you want to sleep with ants in the bed? I don’t.”
“Good point. I’ll grab the phone book.”
He makes some phone calls and we have a reservation at the Southern Palms Beach Club on the South Coast in the Parish of Christ Church, located in St. Lawrence Gap. They have friendly resident cats there. We’ve stayed there before. We know what we’re getting. Excellent.

7:45PM
We call Mr. Thompson back and tell him we are leaving and would like a refund. He says, “No.” He argues that he will lose money if we leave so he’ll have to charge us for our full stay of 8 nights anyways, even if we decide to leave. We state that he is being unfair and unreasonable to charge us for a service we will not be receiving. He then states he will refund us 5 nights. We still say that is unreasonable. We counter offer and say that seeing your requirement for booking was a prepayment of 3 nights then you should be entitled to keep those 3 nights. Refund us the remaining 5, and we have a deal. If not then you’ll have guests who are staying here under duress. He still says, “No”, and leaves. Jeff and I are about to explode.

8:00PM
*knock knock* Mr. Thompson. Ok, I’ll give you the remaining 5 nights on the condition you leave this evening. You’re right that it is unfair for me to ask people to stay in a place where they are not comfortable and that does not meet their expectations. Thank you! We call a cab and tell him we will be leaving in 45 minutes and to please run the credit through.

8:50PM
Cab shows up. Southern Palms please!

9:10PM
Arrival. Oh, is that a steel band I hear? Nice! Here is your room, #127. Have a nice stay. We will.

9:30PM
Holy shit what a day! *snore*

March 7 2008
Beach. Ahhh…..beer at 11AM…..oooo turtles.. 3 of them swimming off shore! Oisten’s Fish Fry. I ate Blue Marlin. Isn’t that local surf legend Brian Talma over there with his wife and 3 kids. Cool.

March 8 2008
Beach…wave jumping…salt water in my eyes.. love it. Oisten’s Fish Fry again. Barracuda this evening. Since when do they have karaoke at Oistens? Dear God,this has become a tourist Mecca. Where have all the wooden shacks gone and muddy streets? “Why is our air conditioner not working right this evening? Hrm.. must tell the desk.

March 9 2008
Tiami Catamaran Cruises. Swim with the adorable Green Turtles then on to Folkestone Marine Park to snorkel the reefs. Lunch on board looking out at Sandy Lane and wonder if the beach side villa is really worth $7000 a night. A/C still not right, tell desk again.

March 10 2008
Beach. A/C STILL not working right. Tell desk this is insane and it needs to be fixed or they move us to a better room with one that works for no extra charge. They tell us we can move to #128, the now cynical Anderson’s say we need to see it first. No problem. We’ll be at the Manager’s Reception in the garden when someone is free to show us. We pass room #128 on our way, Jeff thinks it looks weird. I say it looks cool. I is it’s own little house. Just give it a try. Fine. Free drinks and hors’ dovers. We are waved over to see the room. It’s awesome! Ocean view and separate kitchen complete with private patio. We get our stuff and move. We then go out into “The Gap” for dinner. On our way back to the hotel we hear, *honk honk* “hey guys.. you remember me?” Why yes, you’re the driver who lubelessly ass raped us for the grocery store, how could we forget? We wave politely and in our heads tell him to ‘fuck off’. We sleep soundly.

March 11-13 2008
Beach, attempts at boogie boarding, Rockely Beach, Worthington Beach, Graeme Hall Nature Sanctuary (thanks Jeff for putting up with that!) ate at; Crib Beach Bar, Josef’s, Bean & Bagel, Bellini’s, and Harlequin.
March 14 2008
The day we all dread. The day you go home. *cry* Plane was late upon arrival so hence we were late upon our arrival. I eat a strange tasting airport bought ham sandwich at around 5:30PM. I have to pee and the seatbelt sign is on and we are descending. Crap. Got to JFK at 9:35PM v 9:00PM.

9:45PM
US Customs. Oh sweet a bathroom, but I wanna get through Customs first and get that over with.

10:00PM
Baggage claim.

10:30PM
No bags. People miss their connection to Boston. Where’s the bathroom?

11:00PM
Oh look, finally the bags are coming. Has anyone seen a bathroom yet?

11:15PM
Bags in hand and on our way to the car. I still have to pee.
SIDENOTE: Now, don’t you just hate those people who are in the airport going where ever, and they stand on those moving walk ways? OK sure, if you have crutches or whatever, you’re exempt from this rant. But you other able bodied people…I mean C’MON! Walk to the left stand to the right. And this does not give you the right to BLOCK then entire walkway with your bags. Move!

11:45PM
Finally in the car and on our way. Did I mention I’ve had to pee since the decent? Did I also mention the only bathroom we passed was one BEFORE the US Customs line? We debate 2 routes home, 678 or 95. I vote 95 because there is a better chance of finding a rest stop. He votes 678. I say, $2.37. We go 95. You have to pee now don't you?

12:15AM
Now Entering Greenwich Connecticut. Yay!

12:25AM
Pee. OMG. Eat. OMG.

2:30AM
Home. Bed. Sleep.

Baby we were born to run!

God I have good friends. Last night at the spur of the moment, with literally NO time to spare, I went from cooking dinner and getting ready to serve it to concert going junkie. I thank Jen for thinking of me, I thank Moriah for deciding to go to her cooking lesson and I thank Jeff, for allowing me to still be spontaneus.

I have seen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band 3 times. And each time I see them there is less time to prepare. The first time I was 12, and got to see him in his Born in the USA tour in none other than East Rutherford NJ at Giants Stadium. I knew like months in advance, I went with my dad, we sat in row 15 on the field in the center front section and had a blast. To this day I swear that is when they filmed Courtney Cox on stage with him during "Dancing in the Dark". Second time was at Rentschler Field, about oh, 5 or 6 years ago..wow was it that long ago? And I found out that morning there was a ticket floating around with my name on it..hence debouchury followed. Dancing in the general admission section on field level, tail gating and stumbling home at 4am. Good times. This time I had 1 hour, yes 1 HOUR until showtime. Frenzied? Yes. excited? yes. Magic? You'd better belive it. In fact, reality didn't hit me until the lights went up and there was Bruce, kicking his legs up like a Rockateer and howling at the crowd in that gritty working man's voice.

Just in case you can't read Bruce's handwriting..

Set List:
February 28, 2008
Hartford, CT
HCC Arena

So Young and In Love {Tour Premiere}
Radio Nowhere
Lonesome Day
Gypsy Biker
Magic
Reason To Believe
Loose Ends {Tour Premiere}
She's The One
Livin' In The Future
The Promised Land
Waitin' On A Sunny Day
Janey Don't You Lose Heart {Tour Premiere}
The River
Devil's Arcade
The Rising
Last To Die
Long Walk Home
Badlands

Girls In Their Summer Clothes
Backstreets
Kitty's Back
Born To Run
American Land

sPuTtEr....*ah-CHOO*

Oh Lordy Lordy...is this what the flu feels like? It has been YEARS since I had this and I can tel you I didn't miss it. Usually I get the run-of-the-mill sinus infection and every couple of years I get a nice round of bronchitis.

Well the flu sucks.

And I have been sick for quite sometime. It is amazing how long it festers in you until you actually get "sick". I haven't been feeling well for about 3 weeks, you know how you just feel "off kilter" a bit and run down, can't put your finger on why or what is going on..well this past Monday it came to a head..BLAMMO! I coughed so much that I hurt my back..in all seriousness. It felt like I had been thrown on the ground and kicked in the stomach and the kidneys repeatedly, and then I pulled a muscle to boot. In bed at 7:30PM out of bed at 9:00AM..maybe. M-I-S-E-R-Y.

But yet.. who still had to cook dinner and do the laundry? --->me<--- No help. No help at all. But I am woman, and do not complain, I grit the teeth and get it done because that is what we do. We are women. His mom even told me, "call him and have him come home and make you chicken soup." He can't even find the cold cuts in the drawer marked "cold cuts". I didn't have the heart to tell her. Nope. So I roasted a chicken, carved it, made my own chicken stock and then proceeded to make my own chicken soup. I'm glad I have someone to take care of me when I am sick..me!