Jay and I were talking about how we needed something to do when we hang out and just watch a movie or TV (he’s the one who introduced me to How I Met Your Mother).  We tried playing checkers once, but neither of us could remember how to play, or what colors went on what squares.  The other weekend, I brought over two puzzles.  We set one up on the coffee table, and any free minute I’m at his house, I’m sitting on the couch working on it.  It’s a mini puzzle (10″ x 18″), but it’s 500 pieces!  They’re very little pieces.

Usually I do puzzles with Megan, but I work on it for an hour, and then I get sick of it.  She will either finish it, or we will both give up, and put it away.  This puzzle, however, is going to get finished!  It makes me think of Megan as I work on it, which is nice, and I had Jay take this picture so I could send it to her.

My low iodine diet starts on Monday.   Mom and I went to Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods today to stock up on salt free items.  We found  salsa, tortilla chips, dried fruit and spaghetti sauce that was all salt free!  I also got Lara Bars as snacks because they are delicious and contain nothing but nuts and fruit.  We also bought Spectrum Shortening so we can make pies that I can eat (I can’t eat regular Crisco -  Spectrum makes theirs with palm oil).  We got two of everything at Trader Joe’s.  I’m going away for the weekend with Jay* and his friends to Cape Cod, and I’ll be on my diet.  This way, I can bring tortilla chips and salsa as a snack, and spaghetti sauce if I get stuck for something to eat for dinner (I’m allowed to eat pasta).

We also bought eight bottles of wine (four for me, four for mom), and a six pack of beer for dad.  We spend around $90!  And by “we”  I mean “mom.”  But I’m very happy about the food we bought, even though this diet is still going to suck.  I’ve been spending lots of time at Jay’s house, so I plan on bringing one of my bread machines there so I always can have fresh bread there.

* Jay is the new guy I’m dating.  We started dating back in September, and then we stopped hanging out, and then we got back together in February.  He lives in Leominster, enjoys doing things outdoors (hiking, mountain biking, snow shoeing, snow boarding, etc.), and he makes me laugh.  Sometimes he calls me “Robo.”  He does not, however, understand my love for Honey Bunches of Oats.  But he’s cooked me dinner, and has let me drive his precious car.   I hope that covers it.