Tomorrow for the Super Bowl, I was invited to go over to Liz and Jordan’s with my dad.  To get me to go, Liz said “Tell her I’ll have pineapple and melon slices!”  Because she knows that I’m a healthy eater.  Maybe I’ll go to the store and buy some other fruit too, some grapes or something to add to the mix!  My mom usually makes chili for the super bowl because it is a good football food.  There’s a Three Bean Vegetarian Chili that I had wanted to make this week (and I’ve already bought all the ingredients).  Tomorrow, Larry will be at the party, and he’s a vegetarian. If I make the vegetarian chili, it will be great because it’s something that Larry can enjoy as well as everyone else.  He has a really hard time going to parties or events where there is food that doesn’t have meat in it.  Looking for recipes that don’t have meat in them, I’ve discovered that it is indeed difficult.

I’ll try to take a picture if I think of it, but here’s the recipe now. I’m sure you could also make it with canned beans.  Then, they don’t need to be soaked for hours.  It also wouldn’t have to cook for the 3 hours.  It would just have to be cooked until it was heated thoroughly.

In the pasta y fagioli soup that I made, I really liked the cannelini beans that I added.  Everyday for lunch, I make a spinach salad.  I add a variety of things on and off depending on what I feel like:  red peppers, sunflower seeds, craisins or raisins,  chicken (sometimes, but not at all lately), and always with a light honey mustard dressing.  I bet that cannellini beans would make a really good addition to my salad!  Plus, with the added protein and volume from them, I could eat the salad by itself.  Right now, I make some kind of little sandwich to go with it (mini pizza or a veggie burger).  I’m definitely liking all this new interesting food!  I’m planning our weekly meals for this coming week already.  The only repeat we have so far planned is for Friday.  Veggie pot pie again, and we’re going to invite Larry over.  It was my dad’s idea to make it.  He was bragging about it to Larry, and said “I thought it had chicken in it!!”

I also have Sausage Minestrone Soup, and grilled Tuna (it’s on sale, and we’ve decided to try it.  We’ve never had it before!).  We don’t need dinner tomorrow or Saturday, because we’re going to a Beatles dinner at the Armory.  Here are some of the recipes that I’m looking at:
Quinoa with stir fried winter vegetables

Sesame Noodles with Tofu

Organic winter vegetables with cheese

Bucatini amatriciana

I’ve been interested in trying tofu or tempeh lately.  I’ve never had either, but they both look good.  Does anyone have any opinions on them?  I know that Larry eats it occasionally, and Trevor and Amy make it and then invite Larry over for dinner.  But I’m pretty sure I’ve never had it!

Ok, I’m off to hang out with Maria!  She is over at her mom’s house, which is a quick 20 minutes away.  We’re going to hang out and watch a movie and eat chocolate chip cookies!  Yum!

Three Bean Vegetarian Chili

¾ cup dried pinto beans
¾ cup dried red kidney beans
¾ cup dried black beans
1/3 cup EVOO
3 yellow onions, chopped
2 or 3 fresh jalapeno peppers
6 large cloves garlic, minced
6 T chili powder
2 ½ T ground cumin
¼ t cayenne pepper
¼ t dried oregano
2 cans (28 ounces) diced plum tomatoes
salt and freshly ground black pepper

Pick over beans. Soak for three hours. Drain beans and set aside.
In a large heavy saucepan over low heat, warm the olive oil. Add the onions and chili peppers and sauté, stirring until the onions are soft, about 10 minutes. Add the garlic, chili powder, cumin, cayenne and oregano and sauté, stirring, for 2 minutes. Add the beans, tomatoes and water to cover by 3 inches. Bring to a boil, reduce the heat to low and simmer, uncovered, until the beans are very tender and begin to fall apart, 2 ½ - 3 hours; add water if the beans begin to dry out but are not yet cooked. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Ladle into individual bowls and serve.

Serves six. Can also be used as a dip, or as a filling for burritos.

Oh man, do I want a treadmill desk.

I was at the gym this morning, and I did 30 minutes on the elliptical. I got really tired, and my feet hurt (because for some reason the elliptical makes my feet hurt), and I said “I can’t do this anymore” so I moved to the treadmill. I walked at a brisk pace of 4.2 (does that mean 4.2 miles per hour?), and I finished watching my episode of Roswell (alien version of Twilight). While walking, I realized that even though I was walking pretty quickly, I could still be steady enough to view the mini screen on my iPhone well enough. It made me think a lot about having a treadmill desk. I think that I could spend most of my day just walking. No matter how slowly, it’s something. Lately, I’ve just been sitting on the couch with my laptop. Whether I’m looking up recipes, reading or writing blog entries, doing homework, or even just reading a book, I’m sitting on the couch. With a treadmill desk, I could do all of these things while walking! Even going just two miles an hour (2.0 on a treadmill?) is super slow for me, but that’s still an extra 200 calories burned. I read somewhere that no matter how you do it, you burn 100 calories for every mile. It doesn’t matter if you run it in 5 minutes, 9 minutes, or walk it in 15. It’s 100 calories burned. The only thing that is different is the time it takes you to complete it. That is very interesting to me. I could most definitely just hang out and walk for 5 hours during the day. Spend my Sundays watching a movie and walking. Read my chapters for school while walking. First I’d need a treadmill, though. And I wouldn’t buy a treadmill desk, I’d make my own like this one.

I understand that the reason that I’m not losing weight is because I eat too much. I get it. Today, while babysitting, I made myself a cup of soup (left over from my homemade stuff), then I had some strawberries and blueberries in milk. (notice the nice kid-safe plastic bowl?)

Then I had an egg white sandwich on an English muffin (cause the soup wasn’t my real lunch). Then I had some baby carrots. Then I had a clementine. Then an orange. Then more baby carrots. Then some string cheese while I was feeding the baby. Too much food! Then I came home and had dinner. I think I’ve decided I can’t go to a Super Bowl Party on Sunday because I will over eat. I would rather not put my self in that situation, because I’ve discovered that I have no self control. I do have control when it comes to putting myself in those situations (where bad food is available for free, and is just out there for people to eat). Once I get there, however, I’ll just eat and eat and eat! It’s like I never get full.

Like tonight, at 9:30 I got a craving for Honey Bunches of Oats. I swear I should just start eating them for dinner. Maybe that would cut my night time craving. So I was telling myself “Well, I’m not really that hungry, right? *trying to read my stomach - is it empty? full? just barely enough room for HBOO**” So then I think “Ok, well, I can have half a cup, and that will still take care of my craving. And then maybe I could just add a whole banana rather than just a half, and I’ll fill up more on fruit. Oh, but wait, bananas are one of those bad fruits that you’re really not suppose to eat a lot of.” Seriously? Bad fruit? What the heck is wrong with me?

Luckily, I just told myself “Quick, grab your computer and go to bed! Once you get upstairs the cereal will be too far away. Run. Run NOW!!!” So I did. I grabbed my computer (to finish this post - I almost abandoned it on the couch, but thought “blog post!” - I had already started it), and the new book I started reading, Riding the Bus With My Sister, and booked it upstairs. I chugged a bunch of water, and got my set up ready for the night (I have a water glass next to my bed that needed refilling for my mid-night pill taking, and a pan on my radiator for steam - see eye popping graphic below). But now I am safely in bed, away from a bowl of HBOO. I will just have to wait until tomorrow morning to have one! And now, after I spent time making this awesome graphic with Photoshop (just look at my mad skills!), I am going to read now.

This occurred years ago  (15 Sept 2006), but I just found it, and thought it was hilarious:

Megan: you’re not around, are you?
_____________
Auto response from Robin:
Ginger: Hey stud, where do you keep your wet ones? I need a shower!
Ned: Oh we’ve got a real shower, upstairs!
Ginger: Upstairs!? I hit the jackpot!
_________________

(a few minutes later)
Robin: I am around…. but as you can tell from my Simpsons-themed away message, I was in the shower
Megan: hi!
Megan: ohhhhhhhhh
Megan: I thought it just meant you were upstairs
Robin: oh…no
Robin: well, yes
Robin: both are true
Megan: yes
Megan: so are you upstairs still?
Robin: yes
Robin: but you’ll have to speak up, I’m wearing a towel
Megan: hahahahaha
Megan: you are AMAZING

I finally caved and wrote the 25 things on facebook.  Everyone is doing it, and I followed the masses.  I tried thinking of things that not everyone already knows “I have thyroid cancer” would be a cop out.

1. I put my contacts in with the left one first, but take out the right one first.

2. My parents bought me my car – a 2007 Ford Focus. The loan is in my name, so I get a good credit rating, but the money comes out of their bank account.

3. I’m very slowly changing to organic natural products – deodorant, lip balm, a menstrual cup

4. I used to eat a lot of candy when I was little, and every time I went to the dentist I had cavities. 13 of my back teeth have silver fillings on them.  Now, I don’t really care for candy, except chocolate in moderation.

5. My current GPA in grad school is a 3.93. I only have one class left.

6. I got my belly button pierced at age 22, and I left work with my boss to get it done.

7. I got my nose pierced at age 20, and took it out four days later. $60 down the drain.

8. Before I was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, I was hoping that it was cancer, so that there would be a reason for me to lose my thyroid. I didn’t want it out for no reason.

9. I don’t think that pennies or one dollar bills should exist. I would rather we just use one dollar coins.

10. I was in the model rocket club in high school. Mostly to get my brother to join too, but I think I was there even when he wasn’t.

11. I was my senior class’ treasurer, and single handedly organized our 5 year reunion

12. I am always late to things. Usually only 2-3 minutes, but still late.

13. I really really want to live in a mini house and grow my own food, and not have any need for money. I do not want to work; not because I am lazy, but because I want to enjoy my life.

14. I feel that I have gone a bit crazy since being diagnosed with cancer.

15. I love reading. Once, a while back, I was reading a book at home, had a book on CD in the car, and a different book on CD that I would listen while I walked. Three books at once!

16. I am trying to become a good cook. When looking for recipes, they need to have pictures, though. I need to see the food in order to see if it “looks good.”

17. I know it is mean, but two of my friends are already getting a divorce (under age 25), and in the voice of Nelson Munce, I want to say “Ha Ha!” It just goes to show that you need not be hasty when you select your life partner.

18. I currently babysit for a fabulous family in Leominster. The kids are 7, 4 and 9 months. Other than that, I have no real other job. I’m okay with that.

19. I think that I could survive forever on Honey Bunches of Oats, egg whites, and fruit and vegetables. If I were stranded on a desert island, I’d need those things with me.

20. I have gained 10 pounds since August. At last count, I had lost three. Seven more to go. However, since high school, I’ve lost 20! (if you minus the other seven, then it’s lost 27!)

21. People have commented that I might become a hermit in my mini house. If I have the Internet on my laptop, and my iPhone, I think I might be okay with that.

22. Every day I have to wake up at 5:30am to take my thyroid pill. Then I fall back asleep. It’s very annoying, especially because lately I’ve also had to go to the bathroom, which requires me getting out of bed. Would I like to invest in adult diapers so I don’t have to get out of bed? Yes.

23. I went and visited Emiliano in Santa Fe for two weeks. Before that, I had only hung out with him for three hours in a bar, and then we chatted on the phone for a month while he cycled around the country. It was a bit strange to spend 14 days with someone I didn’t really know, but it was a lot of fun.

24. I have two rings that old boyfriends have given me – one yellow gold, and one white gold. I’m constantly wearing one, depending on if the other jewelry I’m wearing is gold or silver. They’re both very nice. (Gold is a very weird word. Say it, “GOLD.”)

25. This has taken me all day to write. Usually in a day, I can pump out three blog posts! I love blogging, and wish I could get paid for it. That’s what I can do in my mini house, blog about the challenges of living in a mini house and being self sufficient.

Feel free to do your own list of 25 things and put them in the comments, or on your own blog, as Rob did.

This is for Alissa and Dave.  This is a recipe that my mom used to make a lot when I was little.  It was mostly made when us kids had to eat without any parents.  It is a very quick and simple meal, and all three of us liked it.  Once Megan left, Dylan and I would make it just the two of us (it was this, or Mac and Cheese).  Dylan and I most recently made it sometime last year.

You need:  margarine, flour, pepper, whole milk, and one can of chicken breast (about the size of a tuna can - 6oz?)

1.  Melt 2 tablespoons margarine in a double boiler.

2.  Add 2 heaping tablespoons flour, and a dash of pepper.  Stir well.

3.  Slowly add 1 cup whole milk to mix, stirring constantly

4.  After it thickens (several minutes later), add can of chicken, drained, and broken up.

5.  Heat and put over toast

Feeds 3 hungry Streb kids
(it really says that in my mom’s handwriting on the recipe!)

We also make frozen peas to go along with this.  When I eat it, I pile the peas on top of my toast.  So it is toast, then the creamed chicken, and then peas on top of the chicken.  Then I cut it up into bite sized pieces, and eat it with fork.  It’s very delicious.

I ordered a Diva Cup through our local organic foods store.  It ended up costing me $31.  On Amazon.com they’re only $17.50, but I figured with shipping, it’d be close to $25, and for the extra $6, it’s best for me to support a local business.  I’m excited to try it out, and hope it goes well.  I’ve heard lots of good things about them, especially on all the green chic blogs I’ve been reading lately.

First thing I saw this morning was that the stone house where Megan had her wedding reception this summer burned down!!!  It’s the stone house in this beautiful park in southern Fitchburg.  The park was devastated after the ice storm, and it has been locked up ever since.  When the fire officials got there, the fire had already been burning for several hours, and it was at the point where it had burned up all the wood, and there was nothing left but the stone.  I took a picture of the paper and e-mailed it to Megan because I thought that she’d want to know.  Her reply:  “That SUCKS!!!”

Here’s what the house used to look like.  It was very beautiful, and very unique.

I had to babysit today, and we had a winter storm all day.  Luckily, my car is pretty good in the snow, and I had no problems as long as I went super slow.  On my way home, I drove by my doctor’s office, and remembered I had an appointment scheduled for tomorrow at 2:45.  I decided that I’d stop by today and see if they had any cancellations.  I had a book with me, and I was okay with hanging out for a bit and waiting.  The lady checked me in, and I was seen within 5 minutes!  I didn’t get a chance to read hardly any of my book!!  The nurse practitioner I had the appointment with (tomorrow)  was in between appointments, and luckily I just had to chat with her for a bit.  It was perfect timing, and now I don’t have to trek out into Leominster tomorrow.  It was a great idea on my part, and another way that I cut down on driving.

When I came home from the doctors, there was about 6 or 7 inches of snow in the driveway.  I went inside, changed my clothes, ate an orange for fuel, and went out to face the snow.  It took me a couple tries, but I finally figured out how to start the snow blower.  I finished the driveway, and did all of our sidewalks and the paths to both our doors.  It took me exactly 50 minutes.  It was a good workout, but the snow had turned into freezing rain, and then regular rain, so I got a bit wet in the process.  My parents walked in the door about 10 minutes after I had finished, and as they opened the door, I heard my mom say “Do you think Robin did it?”  They didn’t know who had done the drive way!  Our neighbor had done it previously, and they weren’t sure if he was at it again!  But she walked inside and she asked if I had done it, and I told them yes. Not only had my mom gotten to leave work early (at 5pm, instead of 7pm), but both of my parents were able to come home and not have to go right back out to shovel.  It was nice that I was able to help them.  They were extremely thankful.  They even asked what they could make me for dinner!  I must admit, there was a moment when I was outside shoveling where I thought “screw making dinner, let’s get take out.”  But that thought didn’t last long.

At 6, I started to make dinner.  Last night, I made shrimp scampi for my dad and me, and mom ate it sans shrimp.  It was very good, and my mom loved the recipe.  Tonight, I made pasta e fagioli.  It was a very easy recipe, and maybe only took 15 minutes of prep.  The rest was just waiting for it to cook!  Both of my parents really liked it, but next time, I want to double the beans (two cans instead of one), and add less pasta.  But it was really good, and it was a recipe I had never made before!  My mom said this one was a keeper, as well.   (It thickened in the fridge a bit, that’s why it doesn’t look very soupy in the picture).

At 7:50, I left the house for Niles’.  Every Wednesday a bunch of us go over to his house to watch LOST.  It’s great fun.  Tonight, because the weather was so crappy, and because I had already done my fair share of driving, and not enough walking, I decided to walk.  It wasn’t too far of a walk, perhaps a mile.  But I made sure that I bundled up, and I brought an extra pair of pants and slippers just in case.  The slippers came in handy because my socks got wet and I put them on his radiator to dry (they didn’t).

My feet got VERY wet on the way home (I need wellies, not stupid snow boots that aren’t water proof). While walking home, there were 5 people in front of me, and each person had a dog.  I thought it was very strange.  But then I thought “Hmm… I wonder if they have some dog walking club.”  And then I thought that was a very neat idea.  Get a bunch of neighbors together who have dogs, and walk them together.  That’d be a nice way to spend time together, plus give your dog a walk and get a little exercise.  If I liked dogs (which I do not), then that’d be a cool idea.  I like the same idea with little babies and mom with strollers.

I really liked walking to Niles’ house.  I have been trying to drive less, and walk more, especially if it’s somewhere close by (mostly the gym, I haven’t treked to the grocery store yet this winter, but when it was warm out, I did a couple times).  But walking to Niles’ house tonight made me feel very British.  I like how they walk everywhere.  Even if it’s crappy out, or raining, they have to walk, because they (at least Mac and Megan) don’t own cars!  Your choice is to either stay home, or walk in the rain.  I have also decided that in my little house, I don’t want to ever have paper towels, a TV, or a microwave.  I can get by pretty well without a microwave.  While babysitting, I was thinking “Wow, I don’t remember the last time that I needed to use a microwave.  Except…. 5 minutes ago when I made this cup of tea.”  But I could easily make a cup of tea with an electric kettle or on the stove.  But other than today’s rare cup of tea (which I want to drink more of, and I bought I Love Lemon herb tea today!), I never use the microwave.  It’s pretty great.

John Updike is a very famous writer, who I had never heard of until last night, and today, he is dead.  It is possibly my fault. Ho. Lee. Crap.

Let me explain.

Last night, when I ran home to get my library book, the book that I went to get was Augusten Burrough’s Possible Side Effects.  The book features many short stories.  The one I read in class last night was called “Killing John Updike.“  Here’s a summary of the story (or, click that link for the entire story):  Augusten’s friend Suzanne was going a little crazy, and told Augusten to buy John Updike books, because it was likely he was going to die soon. He was “like 80″ and the average lifespan of a white male is only 74…. so he’s going to die soon!  And so the entire story is Suzanne and Augusten scouring eBay and the Internet for his first edition books.  Augusten was looking for autographed copies, because they’d be worth more!  He ended up buying many many books (5?).  So then they talk about how they can kill him, and that the next day, they’ll wake up, and he’ll be dead!  They concentrated really hard on him being dead. And Augusten kept refreshing his CNN homepage for the announcement!!!

I had never heard of John Updike, and wasn’t sure if he made up the guy’s name, as to not talking about an actual author.  So I looked him up on my phone, and sure enough, he was a real guy.  And happily, he was still alive!  He was 76.  I looked over some of the books that he wrote, and nothing stood out as familiar.

So I didn’t think anything of it, until today.

Today, I was at the gym.  I was watching Roswell on the elliptical, and everything was going great.  Then, I looked up at the TV where CNN was playing, and it big letters it said “JOHN UPDIKE, DEAD AT AGE 76.”  And I did a double take.  I slowed down very slow, and just started at the TV.  “John Updike?  That’s the guy from the story that I just read LAST NIGHT about him dying.  About them wanting him to be dead.  Oh my god.”   And so, I was freaking out.  I was thinking, “Holy crap, this guy is now dead.  I just read a story about him being dead, and now he is dead.  That’s very weird.  I wonder if he would still have died if I never had read that story?”  I can’t say for sure.

But I can’t even imagine how Augusten Burroughs felt when he found out.

_____________

****I told my mom this story when she came home.  First I asked if she had seen the news today (she hadn’t).  So I told her the story.  Then she said, “John Updike is one of Gail’s favorite authors”  and I said “Oh, she should call her and tell her you’re sorry.”  My mom replied with:  “You should call her and tell her you’re sorry.”  Hahahaha.  My mom is hilarious.

Yeah yeah yeah…. these are pretty stupid.  But I had 20 minutes to kill.  (the numbers are all messed up - pay no attention)

1. What is in the back seat of your car right now?
Reusable grocery bags and a cheerleader outfit that I have to return to Amy (that I wore on Halloween)

2. When was the last time you threw up?
The last time I went to Hooligans. I had three Jack and Diet Cokes and I got siiiick. Niles called me in the middle of me throwing up, and he felt bad, like it was his fault!

3. What’s your favorite curse word?
I’m not sure I have one. I want to say something interesting like “dang it!” or “craptacular”

4. What was your least favorite part of the day today?
Getting out of the grocery store at 4pm, and not sure if I had time to go to Roots Natural Foods, CVS, and make it back in time to make dinner before class at 5pm. But I did!

5. What were you doing at 8 am this morning?
Sleeping.

6. What were you doing 30 minutes ago?
Copying out recipes out of a William Sonoma cookbook. I’m trying to make new recipes!

7. What was the last book you finished?
The Last Lecture.  It was a very quick read, and I’ve already moved on to something else.

8. Have you ever been to a strip club?
Yes, The Other Side (the seedy crazy one in Fitchburg). It was my college suite-mate’s 18^th birthday, and that’s where she wanted to go.

9. What is the last thing you said aloud?
“Night.” To my dad when he told me he was going to bed.

10. What is the best ice cream flavor?
Chocolate Chip Cookie Dough!

11. What was the last thing you had to drink?
Water. Unless you count the milk in my cereal.

12. What are you wearing right now?
a t-shirt, a long black button up cardigan, a short sleeved grey sweater I got in England, and slippers. I also have a blanket on me.

13. What was the last thing you ate?
a bowl of Honey Bunches of Oats with ½ a banana. It was delicious.

14. Have you bought any new clothing items this week?
nope.

15. When was the last time you ran?
Tonight. We got out of class early, and I had over an hour before the next one began. So I ran home, grabbed my library book, and ran back to class.

16. What’s the last sporting event you watched?
The Celtics vs. the Cleveland Cavaliers at Trevor’s

18. Who is the last person you sent a comment/message to?
My cousin Evan. Just saying Hi!

19. Ever go camping?
Yes. I was suppose to camp in Roswell, NM, but Emiliano and I got a hotel room instead. Cause I was being a big baby.

20. Do you have a tan?
No, but I still have distinct tan lines left over from this summer

24. Do you drink your soda from a straw?
No, straws are unnecessary plastic.

25. What did your last text message say?
“I JUST got home from dinner with my parents from dinner. I am so tired. L But Happy Birthday!” (sent to Kerry. I was bailing on her birthday plans – it was 10:30pm!)

26. Are you someone’s best friend?
Hmmm. Maybe.

27. What are you doing tomorrow?
Eating breakfast, reading blogs. Going to the gym. Reading. Typing up something for school, and then going to an internship meeting at school. Then cooking dinner!

28. Where is your mom right now?
In bed with my pops

29. Look to your left, what do you see?
a TV tray piled with magazines and cookbooks, my empty cereal bowl, and my iPhone.

30. What color is your watch?
It is silver, but I do not wear it. I also have a black plastic Timex that I used to wear while swimming. Now I would wear it running, if I needed to.

31. What do you think of when you think of Australia?
The cute doctor on House, MD

32. Ever ridden on a roller coaster?
Yes, and I don’t really care for them

33. What is your birthstone?
Ruby, and I currently have on a very pretty ruby ring that my high school boyfriend bought me

34. Do you go in at a fast food place or just hit the drive thru?
Walk inside. I like to look at the menu and not feel rushed, and I don’t like wasting gas

35. What is your favorite number?
27

36. Do you have a dog?
No. I don’t like dogs very much. I’m a cat person

37. Last person you talked to on the phone?
My dad.

38. Have you met anyone famous?
Yes. Ali McGraw. She would come into the Flower Market (where I worked) in Santa Fe, NM a lot.

39. Any plans today?
Bed as soon as I’m done this.

40. How many states have you lived in?
2 – Massachusetts and New Mexico

41. Ever go to college?
Yes. Undergraduate and Graduate.

42. Where are you right now?
on the couch in my living room

43. Biggest annoyance in your life right now?
Wanting to knit a blanket, but I don’t know what pattern to use, thus I won’t go out to buy the yarn. I’m afraid I’ll pick the wrong one.

44. Last song listened to?
Shake It – Metro Station

46. Are you allergic to anything?
I’m kind of allergic to cats, but minimally.

47. Favorite pair of shoes you wear all the time?
My slipper boots! They look like ugg boots, but they’re slippers!

49. Are you jealous of anyone?
Megan. I wish I had a nice husband, lived in England, and made awesome vegetarian meals all the time.

50. Is anyone jealous of you?
Probably not. Well, maybe about little things… like my dad might be jealous that I have the motivation to go running every day. Because I know that he wishes he did.

51. Do you love anyone?
Yup, my family and my friends.

52. Do any of your friends have children?
Yes. Caitlin does, and I saw her and Gavin (her cute son) today!

53. Do you eat healthy?
I eat wicked healthy! Tons of vegetables and fruits. I hardly eat anything that’s “bad”

54. What do you usually do during the day?
Not too much. Blogging, reading, watching TV, exercising.

55. Do you hate anyone right now?
Not really.

56. Do you use the word ‘hello’ daily?
I would imagine. That or the more informal “Hey” or “Hi”

58. How old will you be turning on your next birthday?
25. Holy crap!  I don’t want to be 25.

59. Have you ever been to Six Flags?
Nope

60. How did you get your scars?
Neck – thyroid surgery (2 of them!)

Chin – tried shaving “like daddy” and cut a huge chunk out of my chin!

Forehead – cracked it open on a radiator when I was 4ish – stitches!

Eyebrow – I don’t know. Possibly cracked it open on a refrigerator when I was a youngin’

Boobage – lumpectomy to remove a tumor!

Tummy – chicken pox!

61. How much do you weigh?
130ish

62. How much do you want to weigh by Spring?
123ish (that’s what I was last spring!)

63. What’s your New Year’s Resolution?
Um, to be better at various things. Walking more. Drinking more water. So far so good!

64. What was the last movie you saw at the theatre?
Slum Dog Millionaire. It was just “okay”

65. What was the last thing you watched on TV?
House, MD!

66. What’s your favorite kind of juice?
Orange Juice, or a Cranberry Pomegranate mix – 100% juice!

67. What’s your favorite car?
Studebaker! Just for my dad.

68. Do you have a gray hair?
I do not. But if I did, I would pull it out.

69. Angelina or Jennifer?
Jennifer. Angelina freaks me out, and I think Jennifer Aniston is wonderful

70.  What is the airspeed velocity of an unladen swallow?

African or European?

(I added that last one myself!)
Feel free to comment, or do this survey yourself in the comments.  I’m sure we all have a few minutes to waste.

At Larry’s house on Friday night, there were a lot of people there that worked with my dad.  He would introduce me to people as his daughter, and several times that night, I was asked:

• “Oh, are you the one who is living in England?”
• “Are you the one who just got married?”
• “Are you the one who was in London for a bit?”

No, that is not me.  That is the other sister.  The interesting sister.  Stupid people.  My mom was sitting near me while this was all happening, and she noticed it, too.  She told me later that she kept waiting for me to say, “No, I’m the one with cancer.”

I thought of it, but I didn’t think that would be nice to throw that into these strangers’ faces.  They were just being nice by chatting with me.  I’m not sure what they would have thought if they were faced with “No, I’m the one with cancer.”  Would they feel bad?  Guilty?  Would they ask me about it?  I don’t want to make people feel bad.

Perhaps the problem is that my parents only talk about Megan?  It doesn’t come up that I got cancer, but it DOES come up that Megan got married, and is living in another country.  Bah!

When I got cancer, I finally thought that I’d be the interesting one.  That Megan would finally get asked, “Oh, are you the one with cancer?”  But then, when I finally had something interesting, Megan announced that she was getting married.  She stole my thunder.  So instead of having to tell people that one of their daughters was sick; they were able to be excited, and tell people that one of their daughters was getting married.

Again, I was struck with middle child syndrome.  I was upset that Megan had taken the same time that I was dealing with surgeries and radiation to be planning a wedding.  My mom went from having “Robin’s Medical Folder” to “Megan’s Wedding Folder.”  I’m sure it was much more fun to organize wedding stuff.  I don’t think I ever told Megan all of this.  What was I suppose to do?  My mom said I should have said, “Too bad Megan, I’m sick.  You can stick out teaching for one more year and get married next year.”  But I never even thought of doing that.

All I know is that I really hate it when people constantly come up to me and assume that I am my sister.  It makes me feel that I am not worth anything, and that I am not interesting enough for people to remember me.  I am almost done getting my Masters degree, and I was 23 years old and diagnosed with cancer.  What the hell?

Although it was dark on my way home, I forgot how well lit the street is!

It’s only 20 degrees out, though, so that sucked. Look how red and goosebumped my leg was when I got to the gym! Luckily, because I had worked out so hard, the walk home didn’t feel as cold.

Also, you know what stinks?  When I get out of a hot shower, and my face feels really dry and tight.  It’s like my face is yelling “I’m thirsty…. I need lotion!”