My Latest Obsession

I found this shirt yesterday at TJ Maxx and was so excited. It's a workout shirt with a built in bra in a size 3X! I was so happy I bought all they had, which, unfortunately, was only two. They were $15.00, with a "suggested" retail price of $40.00. Since then, I have dragged Robin to every TJ Maxx, Marshall's and Ross in a 25 mile radius. No luck - this was a one time thing.

But this has got me thinking and now I'm upset. We were at a strip mall in Fort Lauderdale today. We stopped to go to TJ Maxx, but there was also a Sports Authority and an Avenue (large size clothes for women). I don't normally shop at either store, but figured while I was there, I'd pop in to see if either store had my size 3x workout shirt.

Sports Authority had nothing larger than an XL, and that looked really small. It made me mad. Just because you're heavier doesn't mean that you're not fit. I, thank God, have perfect health (other than the touch of alcoholism), and I know it's all do to exercise. So why can't I go into a Sports Authority and buy a 3x shirt? I can actually squeeze my butt in to an XL (in strecthy exercise clothes, that is), so that's usually not a problem.

So as I ranted and raved about Sports Authority discriminating against the fat, we wandered into Avenue. They sell larger clothes, so surely I'd find something there.

Well guess what? The fat lady store doesn't sell work out clothes. That made me even madder than Sports Authority not selling them. That's the fat discriminating against the fit fat. One of their own, only in better shape.

What's a girl supposed to do? It's a catch 22. (Too bad it isn't a size 22).

I think I should start a workout clothing line and call it "Fashion for the Fit Fat".

Oh and BTW - if you happen upon (yes I said happen upon) one of these shirts (Adidas, 3x, $15.00) and would like to pick it up for me, I will happily reimburse you and pay for shipping.

Ummm?

Why does my 35 year old brother have an African American Barbie Doll prominently displaced in his room? (The fact that he has a "room" is a whole 'nother topic).

And don't tell me it's my niece's because it's not.

I asked her.

She said, "It's Daddy's".

Week 3 of my Journey on the Wagon

On Monday, 12/15/08 (coincidently, my recovering (actually seems to be recoverED) alcoholic father's birthday), I decided it was time to do something about my drinking. And by doing something about my drinking, I don't mean refreshening my drink.

So it's been a full two weeks. Out of 14 days, I remained alcohol free for 11 days. On the 3 days that I did drink, it wasn't out of stress or upsetedness or anything negative. I have become a little philosophical (for lack of a better term) about my drinking. There are days when I feel like I have to drink ("gotta") and days when I just want to drink ("wanna"). The wanna days are pretty much every day, but I only chose to drink 3 out of 14. I feel it's important to not drink on a gotta day. I also know it's important not to give in to a wanna day just because it's not a gotta day. Some days were super hard (thus the Vodka poem) and other days weren't too bad, thanks to my new friend, Xanax.

I did the math and calculated that I was drinking almost 2000 calories per day!!! My weight loss attempts had hit the wall. I knew, providing, I didn't substitute food for vodka, that I'd lose weight. So I'm proud to announce that I have lost NINE POUNDS!!!! I haven't exercised at all until yesterday because I felt so tired all the time. I gave myself two weeks and now I'm back to working out, tired or not.

I think I'll make this a weekly Monday morning post to keep myself accountable.

Holiday Summary

This is the rated G version because my mother reads this blog (or so she says).....

Pictured above is my little brother, Jason, on Christmas morning. A picture is worth a thousand words!

Seriously, the holidays were without incident (for the most part) this year. Parents behaved (give or take), brothers behaved (kinda), niece behaved (relatively speaking), Robin behaved (more or less), and my parents' kitties behaved (for them). Buddha (Jason's golden retriever) and I were absolute angels.

As always, my mom's "budget" for Christmas went out the window. I am not complaining, mind you.

Herb Encrusted Grouper

We went to a restaurant last night in Ormond Beach, "Stonewood Grill". My mom, brother and I ordered this fish and it was absolutely delicious. I was so excited to see that I could actually google the recipe. If you like fish, you have to try this:

Shopping List
INGREDIENTS:

BALSAMIC REDUCTION:

1 Cup Balsamic Vinegar
2 Tbsp. Granulated Sugar
1 1/2 Tbsp. Corn Starch
1 1/2 Tbsp. Water

HERB ENCRUSTED GROUPER:

12 oz. Cut into two 6 oz. pieces of Black Grouper (Try to get the fillet to be approximately 1” thick)
2 oz. Balsamic Dressing – found at most grocers.
1/2 Cup Herb Bread Crumbs
1 Roasted red pepper


Preparation
BALSAMIC REDUCTION:

Heat a saucepan over medium-high heat.
Place the vinegar in a saucepan until it is reduced by 1/3 and begins to thicken.
Add the sugar, and stir while dissolving.
Make a slurry of the arrowroot and water. (A slurry is a mixture of cornstarch and water.)
Slowly drizzle the slurry into the vinegar mixture until it’s thickened. The vinegar mixture must be boiling to activate the slurry to thicken the reduction.
Allow the mixture to cool.
Place in a cup and set aside for later use.
HERB ENCRUSTED GROUPER:

Preheat the oven to 375° degrees.
Dredge the piece of fish in the balsamic vinaigrette dressing.
Lightly coat the fish in the herb bread crumbs.
Place the fish on a metal cooking sheet in a preheated oven.
Bake in the oven 10-12 minutes depending upon thickness.
Remove from the oven and we suggest you serve it over a bed of savory rice pilaf.
Place strips of roasted red pepper across the top of the filet.
Drizzle balsamic reduction across the fish.

Nutrition Information:
Calories: 467.70
Protein: 31.65
Carbohydrate: 55.95
Total sugars: 31.99
Fat: 11.12

CHEF MIKE’S TIPS:
When shopping for grouper at the market, ideally what you are looking for in the grouper at the market With grouper, you always want to keep the tendons of the grouper parallel to the pan otherwise the heat won’t penetrate the meat of the fish and cook. If your piece of fish has the tendons running parallel, butterfly the fish so the tendons run up and down.

Ode to My Soon to be Lost Friend

Raspberry Vodka
What have you done?
We used to have good times
We used to have fun.

Raspberry Vodka
Where'd the time go?
A party girl in the 80's
Addicted to you lately.

Raspberry Vodka
Must say adios
It's while watching my soaps(*)
That I'll miss you the most

Raspberry Vodka
What will Smirnoff do?
Will they go bankrupt?
Or get bailed out too?

(*)Soaps are tivo'd to watch at night, not during the day, thank you very much.

Jonesing for Raspberry Vodka

Smirnoff isn't the cheapest vodka, and it's far from the most expensive. But I have tried them all and this (IMHO) is the best. A couple years ago, 20/20 or one of those shows did an expose on vodka snobs in NYC. They were blind folded and given all the expensive vodkas and Smirnoff won hands down. The tasters were people who swore they would never drink anything but Grey Goose, Stoli, Ketel One, etc.

Here is the Urban Dictionary definition of jonesing:

1. jonesing
to have a strong need, desire, or craving for something.
see also: jones
Sheeeit beeeitch after smokin' dat weed I'm jonesing for some grub!
Shaniqua is mad jonesing for Rasheed, dat bitch follow him around everywhere.
(I'm jonesing for raspberry vodka).

2. jonesing
craving; wanting
I'm jonesing for some sushi.
(I'm jonesing for raspberry vodka).

3. jonesing
the act of needing something badly. Usually related to chemical dependency.
I've been jonesing for a joint all day.
(I'm jonesing for raspberry vodka).