Live in Fitchburg and registered to vote? Cast your vote for me in the primary election September 22 (Alissa’s birthday!). Please share with your friends and family. You should all know from this blog what I do to help the community of Fitchburg. As a councilor, I will be able to do even more!

After the low iodine diet, I weigh exactly the same.  Didn’t lose or gain anything.  I think that’s a good thing because I was eating a crap load of carbs.  I was actually afraid I was going to gain weight!

Cancer stuff is all over and done with until next year.  I still have to take a pill every freaking morning, but nothing else until a year from now.  Jason asked how I felt, and if I was very very excited and happy about the results.  I told him “no.”  He didn’t understand how that was possible, so I told him, “Well, nothing has changed.  I feel exactly the same way I felt a week ago.  If things had come back differently then I’d feel differently, but nothing has changed.  So I feel the same.”  Nothing has changed except I know that for right now, there aren’t any thyroid cells lingering.  But I still have to take a pill every day, and I still have to monitor my Thyroid Stimulating Hormone and my Thyroglobulin levels, and there’s still a 30% chance that the cancer will come back.  So really, what’s there to be all excited and happy about?  I’m just glad the testing and diet is over.   As Dr. Ross said on my way out, “I’ll see you next year.”

I’m thinking about running for a councilor at large for my city’s City Coucil.  I’m debating whether or not it’s worth it.  It pays about $9,000, but even if it was for free, I’d still be interested.  I’m just not sure what exactly I’d be signing myself up to do.  I need to get other’s opinions on how hard/time consuming it is.  Right now, I volunteer a LOT of my time for Fitchburg, and it would be nice to get paid and recognized for all of my hard work.  But, would I have to get rid of my blog?  Would reporters or someone read my blog and report negative things about me?  Would I really care?   It seems that City Council only meets twice a month, but I’m sure there is a lot of hidden time in there.

I haven’t been running as much as I used to.  I wish that I ran more, but I just don’t have the motivation.  I’m planning on going out in a bit, but I just feel so lazy, and that I don’t want to use the energy.  But, whatever. i’m planning on getting a lot of exercise in when I visit Megan.  But walking and biking everywhere, and making her go out on runs with me.  It’d be fun if they had a dog that I could walk every morning and evening, but they don’t.  Perhaps they have a friend’s dog that I can walk?

Speaking of Megan, my time to visit her and Mac in England for a MONTH is coming up soon!  I’ll be there in just about 4 weeks.  I am very excited!  I have no idea what I’m going to do over there, but I know whatever it is will be a lot of fun.  I know Megan will teach me a lot about cooking and eating ethically and all that, and that’s nice.

I planned a graduation party for my brother for this Saturday.  Of course, he doesn’t want to do it, but I said “Dylan, when you graduate, people send you money.  BUT, you need to have a party so that the people know  you graduated, and then they’ll come to your party, and they will BRING YOU MONEY.”   He doesn’t really seem to care, but my family enjoys a good cookout, and I know that Dylan deserves graduation presents (money or not - even job advice would be wonderful).  That’ll be a fun night.

I went out and had an interview with a hospice in Boston.  I am suppose to hear back to see if I was one of the chosen interns (I think they’re choosing 5).  I am very excited, and I REALLY want to do this internship.  I just want them to freaking call me already!!

I thought of a problem with my mini house idea.

Health Insurance.

I absolutely need health insurance, not just because I have a tendency to get sick…. but because I require a prescription to Synthroid for the rest of my life.  Without insurance, it’s about $40 dollars a month.  With insurance, I pay $22 (cause it’s a name brand - and has to be Synthroid cause of the cancer).  Plus, I’m also prone to tumors (thyroid and one in my left breast that was removed in 2004).  And I have GERD, which I have heard can cause esophegeal cancer.  Plus, I was a lifeguard in the hot sun for 40 hours a week for 7 summers, which isn’t good for skin cancer.  So…..  That could be a problem.

I know that in Massachusetts (where it is ILLEGAL to be without health insurance), they have Mass Health that anyone can get (please don’t question me about this, I’m still covered by my parents’ cause I’m still in school).  But I’m not sure about “down south” where I’d be living.  Could I use Medicaid?  Or, if I have a part time job doing MH stuff, then perhaps I could get it through my employer.  That is definitely something that I need to think about before moving off to my own little village.  Perhaps I should just move to southern Italy, Spain or Greece.  My guess is that they would have national healthcare.  Or perhaps by the time I’m ready to move down there (2010, 2011?)  President Obama will have some new awesome health plan.  My mom has just made me very aware of the fact that I can not let my health insurance lapse, because then people will refuse to cover me because of a “pre-existing condition”.  Which is bull crap!

So I need to think of that before I move.  Perhaps in my little village, I could have a doctor and a pharmecutical drug rep.  The rep could get me free drugs (the good kind), and the doctor could take care of my health.  It’s all about bartering, people.  Alissa proposed that she wanted to live in my village (and be the one with the real job), which is awesome.  But, I ask, what do you have to offer?

On a totally different note, I want a bowl of cereal.  I had dinner an hour ago (at 7:30), and I have been hungry ever since.  I had a serving of a Trader Joe’s vegetable lasagna, half a piece of Texas Toast, and a garden salad.  It wasn’t enough, especially cause the seving of lasagna was only 260 calories.   But, the good news is, that I now have tons of room for cereal!!!  I crave cereal every single night, and sometimes I have room for it, and other times not.  But when I get a craving, I can’t stop thinking about having a bowl of cereal until I actually eat it.  It’s weird.  Then, I’m done eating the serving, and I think “Oh no!  I want more!”  But I’m usually very comfortable on the couch, and can’t convince myself to get up and ger more (plus, I know my stomach can’t really handle it).

**Update, I ate a nice bowl of cereal at 9:30.  It was delicious.  I can’t wait to have another bowl tomorrow morning.  Yuuuuum.**

I’m so dedicated to the gym, and walking, and not using my car, that I occasionally (whenever it’s raining) walk to the gym in the rain with my umbrella!  I even have it placed right next to my gym bag in case I need to grab it on my way out the door. I look so somber in this picture because it was raining, and I was walking and taking a picture of myself at the same time.  But I’m sure I was in a good mood!

As I was leaving the gym, I saw this.  The recycling bin, and trash can right next to each other.  There are freaking water bottles in the trash can.  What the crap?  I don’t understand that.  What is wrong with people that they don’t throw their plastic bottles in the recycling bin that is RIGHT next to the trash can.  It baffles me.  So, of course, every time I see it, I have to reach into the trash, and move them.  And then I need to wash my hands.  I need to start bringing anti-bacterial gel to the gym so I can sanitize my hands after reaching into the trash.

Then, at work, I got this awesome little note from Rob.

Oh, and here is a little something to educate my readers. The Daily Show said that Sarah Palin couldn’t name all the countries in North America. Well…. I bet you couldn’t either.
North America Includes:
Canada
United States of America
Mexico
Greenland
and ALL of Central America

There are FORTY ONE countries or terrorities in North America.

And so, Jon Stewart, I challenge you to name them.
I understand that Sarah Palin may not be a genius, but don’t make fun of her for something that you got wrong on your own show. He stated the countries were “America, Gay America to our north, and Burrito America down south.”   I wasn’t positive about Central America (I mean, is it part of North, or part of South America?  Answer:  North),  but I at least knew that Greenland was part of North America!  Come on!!!!

The more you know. **flying star**

There were two wonderful things about Election Day yesterday.  First, we elected a wonderful new president.  I have absolutely great, high intentions about Barack Obama.  Last night, I asked Niles, “Wow, I wonder what the next four years are going to be like.”  One of the people on my buddy list has an AIM away message that says “Ugh, get ready for $5 gallon of gas.”  I’m okay with that.  In Europe, they pay $6-$7 for gas (Megan, is that about right?).  And they walk a lot.  A LOT.  And they use public transportation.  We should be more like that.  I am okay with $5 gallon of gas.  I bought gas on October 8th, and paid $34.  I have not gotten gas since then, and it is November 5th.  If I hadn’t had to go get Dylan (damn him!), I would be able to go a lot longer without having to get gas.  Another friend of mine has a message that says “I’m moving to Europe.”  Ok, first of all, I think they are MORE liberal and more anti-Bush/McCain than we are here!  What good is that going to do?  And there, you will definitely pay more for gas.  Wow, these people are morons.  They’re all people I went to FSC with a long time ago.  I think their comments alone are reason enough to take them off my buddy list.  Plus, I haven’t talked to them in years.

The second wonderful thing about Election Day, was the ALL DAY marathon of House, M.D on the USA network (USA!  USA!).  ALL day long.  It was absolutely wonderful.  I watched 3-4 episodes yesterday, and taped 4 more when I left for work.  I would have taped more, but I was worried that I would run out of room on the DVR.  I was really surprised at how many episodes there were that I had never seen.

Oh, and that tree atop the new Fitchburg State building?  I guess it’s something called a “tree topping ceremony.”  It’s normal to do that for new buildings, I guess.   According to Google, the tree topping ceremony follows from an old pagan ritual to honor/appease tree gods for providing the building material for construction. Pagan ritual!!!  Awesome.  So it’s not a “Christmas” tree, but really, it is.  Well, it’s the same kind of tree as a Christmas tree is.  Balsam Fir?

In other awesome news, I just saw an ad for The Snuggie!!!  The blanket with sleeves!  (Warning, the link opens up a video).  Now, I have my own blanket with sleeves that I got last year as I was recovering from my surgery.  It was awesome, and I waddled around the house in it.  But it was not as awesome as the Snuggie.  However, mine looks thicker.  But the Snuggie has a built in turtle neck!  I want one.  Sersiouly.  If they had  a black one (cause black is more chic), I would wear it out of the house, too.  Throw on my fake pearl necklace, and my fake Ugg boots, and I’d be a fashionista!  Oh yeah, I’d do it.  Too bad they don’t come in black.  Curses!

1.4 miles there and back.

2.8 miles total. One mile is suppose to be about 2,000 steps. Total, my run should be about 5,600. But I’m home, and my pedometer only reads 4,792, and that includes any steps I took before my run. What the heck? Stupid pedometer! I would have done way more steps if I have WALKED to the Rec Center and back, usually that’s about 3,000 or more alone!

A friend of mine asked me what I voted on one of the questions (it had to do with dog racing), and I told him. In response, he said, “I hope you get euthanized” to which I responded with “*rolls eyes*.” To which my friend said “Whatever Robin.” So then I said “I can have my opinion, and vote for what I want.” And he did not respond.

I have friends that are voting for different things than they are, and I certainly don’t tell them that I want them to die. Seriously.

I am voting tomorrow, and I decided I am going to run to the polls.  I used mapmyrun.com, and it is 1.38 miles each way.  That is the perfect amount of exercising, and I have to vote anyway, so it’s win win!

I had a work meeting down in Auburn tonight from 5-9, I thought they’d be feeding us, but they didn’t!  Luckily, I had brought veggies in tupperware (baby carrots and red pepper slices).  Even luckier, we had a break mid way through at 7:30, so I ran down to the food court in the mall and grabbed a mini turkey sub from Subway. It’s a 4 inch sub, so it was only 200 or so calories, not much for dinner, that’s for sure.  When I got home at 10, I was still hungry.  There was lasagna in the fridge, and apple pie on the counter.  I thought to myself “Well, I am craving pie, so I could just have pie…. or I could have lasagna AND pie.”  I chose lasagna and pie, and I wish that I had only chosen pie.  Now it’s 10:50, and I’m overly full.  Blah.

Emiliano (who designs the look of my website) is suppose to be changing the layout, but it hasn’t happened yet.  He was working on it a bit last night, and ever since then, I keep checking back and hitting “refresh”  because I’m very excited about the new look.  I decided that the look of it now is too boring (it’s just black and white, with my pictures at the top!).  If I don’t add a photograph to my entry, it’s even more boring!  It needs color, and just needs to look more interesting.  More eye popping.  It needs eye popping graphics!  Until he changes it, I’m just going to keep hitting “refresh” incessantly. Oh, and I gave him more pictures for my banner.  They are all pictures I’ve taken in various parts of the country.  Actually, I think all the ones on it now I took in New Mexico.  Hahahaha.  So…. various parts of New Mexico. (If Megan would send me that one I took on the pier in England, then I could add that.  Hint. Hint.)

I’ve been reading the site Kath Eats Real Food a lot lately (I get it in my RSS feed).  She updates it about 3 times a day after every meal.  She takes beautiful pictures of the food she eats, and it sure does look great.  She even puts the food on her plate so it looks pretty.   I can’t imagine how she can find the time to take pictures of the food she eats at every meal, AND describe exactly what she’s eating.  Seriously, she will take a picture of every single item (one lunch she had a sandwich, carrot sticks, an apple, a yogurt, and a dum dum lollipop), and there is a picture of every item, PLUS all of them together, on the table.  Seriously.  Six pictures in total.

She does, however, eat amazing looking breakfasts.  Here are the ingredients:

1/3 cup oats, milk, water

1/2 large banana

Salt, vanilla

1 tbsp ground flax

2 tbsp wheatberries

1 tbsp raisins

1/3 crumbled Honest Foods Country Square Chocolate Brownie

Spoonful Butter Toffee PB

I would make this, but without the wheatberries (cause I don’t know what they are), the peanut butter, or the brownie (sometimes she adds a crumbled up granola bar).  Oh, and I would add a little granola.


Oh, and she drinks mini glasses of wine, unless she uses wine glasses made for giants (or unless she takes the picture after she’s already drunk 4 ounces).  I’ve checked, and they’re all this small!

Kath, I love looking at the pictures of your food, I really do.  And right now, I wish that I had taken these pictures, because they are so beautiful, and they’re going to make my blog entry look awesome.  Keep on with the real food,  it really is beautiful.  And yummy.  And that’s the best part.

Governon Schwarzenegger in California has signed a law that will require all chain restaurants to put nutritional and calorie information on their menus, and on their indoor menu boards.

But, the law is only for chains with 20 or more locations (17,000 restaurants), and they don’t have to do it until 2011!!!!  I don’t understand why it isn’t ALL restaurants, and why it isn’t by June 2009?  That would give them 8 months to do it.

New York put in a similar law in March of this year.  New York restaurants have responded to the law by offering healthier, low-fat ingredients and smaller portions.  Even just making the meals smaller would have a HUGE impact, I can imagine.  I know that Il Forno restaurant here in Fitchburg gives enough food for three meals.  Dinner one night, and then lunch and dinner the next day, too!  It is absolutely amazing food, but that sure is a lot.  Not only would giving out half the amount of food deter people from eating so much, but it would also bring down the price.  I think that my favorite meal, Chicken and Brocolli Aglie Olie is about $14 a plate!  They could cut it in half, and still charge $9.  That’d be a good drop in price, and maybe it’d still be enough for me to have a small portion for lunch the next day.  Or, maybe giving me only half the meal, I’d eat the entire thing.  But with the HUGE portion, I only eat 1/3 of it (and 1/3 for lunch, and 1/3 for dinner the next day.)  So would making the portion actually make me eat more?

It’s amazing to learn that a serving of pasta is one cup.  I’m going to start measuing it out so I can see how much exactly one cup is.  Lately, I’ve been measuring out my breakfast cereal and milk to make sure I don’t go cereal crazy.  I always thought that 1/2 cup of milk was way too little, but its really the perfect amount. I’m getting really interested in sizes and stuff, and how much I probably over eat.  I want to get a kitchen scale for Christmas.  Megan has one, and they use it for baking.  I’d want to use it so I know when a serving is “28 grams,” that I know exactly how much that is.

I enjoy reading other people’s blogs, and came across this one here.  The blogger writes a very interesting post on Sarah Palin and parenting, and to be honest, I had never really thought of it this way.

Here it is (thanks girlgriot for the post):

And then there’s Sarah Palin. As if she’s the first or only woman who’s had to put down her Blackberry and pick up her breast pump. Please. She’s eating up this whole supermom thing, and that offends me. If she was interested in breaking the glass ceiling for any woman but herself, she might call people on that shit, but no, she seems to like it, to think it strengthens her bid.

I just can’t see how any parent could do to a child what Sarah Palin has done to her daughter. Your ambition is more important than your child’s life? And how she’s spinning it as a way to showcase her ‘family values’ is, as my students would say, grimy. To use your child as a political tool is so ugly I can’t quite process it. Maybe the subtitle of this post should be “Beyond the Pale … but not the Palin.”

I have no problem with a mother of five deciding to accept her party’s nomination to be Vice President. None. In Sarah Palin’s shoes, would I have accepted? No. And part of that refusal would surely have been because I had a special-needs infant at home. And part of it would have been because I had an unwed-and-pregnant 17-year-old. Not because I was the mother of either of those children but because I was a parent of those children. I’d figure that the baby would surely need more of both parents’ time and attention (and I’d probably think that about a baby who didn’t have special needs, too). I’d also be selfish about my time with that baby. Wouldn’t being Vice President mean I’d miss far too much of his growing up? First step, first word, first … maybe everything. That seems like a lot to give up, but that might just be me.

Maybe I would have accepted if Trig had been my only special-needs child. I’d have enough money to arrange for excellent care — even excellent care that could and would travel with me wherever I needed to be, excellent care that would be live-in once I moved to DC to take office. Ok, scratch my first answer. I’m on the fence now on the Trig question.

I’m not anywhere near the fence, though, when it comes to Bristol. There’s no way I would have accepted the offer. I would have thought about the fact that my acceptance would be to turn my child over to the rabid frenzy of the media, open her to scrutiny, judgment and commentary that she would be much happier and healthier without. I would do that as a mother or a father. It seems reasonable to assume that Bristol Palin would rather have had the personal story of her pregnancy and motherhood play out in the spotlight of Alaska politics rather than in the international press. I also choose to assume that she might have preferred not to be forced to marry the man-boy she’d been messing with (but that might just be me, too). If her mother had declined McCain’s offer, most of us would never have heard of the Palins, would never have had to see a single photo of Levi Johnston’s I-was-cool-in-high-school face. Bristol might actually have been able to make some choices, and maybe those choices would have been different from the ones that have been made for her in the last couple of weeks.