Without any forethought (but with encourgemnet from a nice sale at the supermarket), I cooked up two great quality NY strip steaks for dinner last night. Complimenting the sizzling, simply prepared (salt & pepper then 16 minutes in the broiler) strips were steamed whole Haris Coverts (sp?) (French green beans) and a salad of baby spring mix greens with dried cranberries, roasted pumpkin seeds and goat cheese crumbles. Since we had no red wine in the house (we try not to drink alcohol on weekdays, anyway) we opted for simple ice water to drink.

I noted to hubby, "Gee, what did I make for Ash Wednesday but STEAKS!"

He and I (both non-practising Catholics) chuckled and then began our philosophising:

"Well, LIKE Jesus said we had to eat fish? I think He cares more that we don't eat alot of junk."

"Hmm, I think it'd be more offensive if we ate bread, since that's the physical form He takes on earth these days!"

Yeah! That's the ticket!

So, in a wierd twist, I have come to the conclusion that a strict  breadless ( and pizza-less, etc.)  Ash Wednesday and Fridays of Lent will become our family act of reflection and self-sacrifice. I think I'll go get some lamb chops for Friday...

Tonight we are heading to the local indor pool when hubby gets home for our semi-regular (barring business trips, viral infections of a family memeber, etc.) family swim night.

In the past, when feeling stricken by SAD (seasonal affective disorder) I used to pop over to a tanning salon for a 15 minute session enjoy some UV and "brighten" things up. However, a family friend recently developed a very scary case of melanoma on her scalp - an area that I am particularly susceptible to, having very thin, auburn hair and fair skin.

So I have shied away from the "fake 'n bake" while still clamoring for SOMETHING to make me feel a little more "bright."

I was enticed into my local Vitamin Shoppe (yes, they actually spell it that way) with a coupon, and while gathering various essential oils, teas, and low-carb oatmeal items, I spied the "Lumiram Chromalux Full Spectrum Lamp" lightbulb.  The packaging and website state that the bulb is designed to mimic actual sunlight. I decided to put it into the desk lamp where I sit each day, typing my blog entries, reading my sparse amount of email, and organizing bills. I have fingers crossed that it will do something...

this is a test of the emergency blogdrive system. This is only a test. Beeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeep.

It looks as if Philly native and Eagles fan Kevin Eubanks will be taking a swim in a dunk tank full of New England Clam Chowder, per the Super Bowl bet he concocted with his boss, Tonight Show host Jay Leno (a Pats fan.)

I was disppointed in the outcome but, actually not surprised. McNabb played JUST like he did against Atlanta in the playoffs - running out of steam and confidence to make connections in the last quarter. Not unlike a certain diminutive Philadelphia-area horse who also ran out of steam during his chance for the history books at Belmont.

Sooooooo...

Last night after dealing with a 101 fever and BAD throat pain I suspected that I was not dealing with a mere "cold."

A quick trip this morning to the 24-hour acute care center confirmed it: Strep Throat.

Delicious!

Today all that is on my agenda is chugging lots of tea, water, juice...I just made some sugar-free juice popsicles...

Last night my husband returned home after 9 days (and many, many hours of travel) in Hong Kong. Apparently he now has at least one employee reporting to him from that office and because of his new responsibilities (he got a promotion to a newly-creted position) he will be visitng there more often.

As expected, he was utterly wiped out from some 24-hours of travel including a layover in Tokyo. He began unloading multiple bags of goodies - mostly cheap watches and "hello kitty" toys for our daughter. He thoughtfully brought back a pretty deep lavender pashmina shawl for me, even though I told him not to get me anything. Awww!

Since we are still on our own, kiddo and I had a disco party in the kitchen (slippery floors and all that...) Can I state for the record that Peaches & Herb's Shake Your Groove Thing must be among the most peppy, uptempo, upbeat disco tunes of all time?

I think the only K-tel-esque Item I have ever purchased is The Ultimate Dance Party double CD. There are a few clunkers on there but overall its got 'da HITS, baby! (Ktel sells prescription DRUGS now...I guess since their customer base is aging they've moved on from crap-rock compilations to lipotor and viagra...)

I was over at Michelle's, admiring her Bon Jovi obsession when I recalled a purchase that I have been hankering to make for some time now.

None other than a faux-Bebe shirt, encrusted in swarovski crystals, that looks like this:

 

Yeeeeeeaaaaaaah. That's what I'm talkin' 'bout! It's just so "Jersey."