I feel compelled to post these pictures from our trip down to see the Plaza lights on Thanksgiving, since Leah said a blog isn't worth reading without pictures. You might have noticed that I don't have small children to post pictures of, so sometimes I skip that step altogether.

To right that wrong and to try to entice people into reading my blog, here is not one picture but TWO. Enjoy our beautiful faces.

Us with Mr. and Mrs. Ruble Henderson

Food Journal - Day . . .

In all fairness to myself, I warned that my week of food journaling would be, well, less than a week. But here's another day in review:

Breakfast (8:30)
*2 beef sausage links

Lunch (12:30)
*Chicken soup from Panera, with a side of bread

Snack (2:30)
*White tea

Dinner (7:00)
*Salad with mushrooms, red pepper, celery, cheese, and sea salt
*Brown rice and barbeque chicken
*Dessert drink and 2 smallish cookies

Comments: Not the most impressive day, but I did eat a salad (without MSG-tainted Ranch dressing, no less, which is my favorite). The salad has to count for something. And the fact that I didn't eat as many cookies as I would have liked -- it is the holidays, after all. I did go to the trouble to make brown rice instead of white, as well as feeding my husband leftovers, which makes me feel good about my food budget and the state of my refrigerator.

From Leah's brother's blog:

"Here is the next challenge I want to put to anyone reading In Defense of Food and thinking/blogging about health and nutrition: For one week, document -- on your blog -- everything you eat. Include the quantity you eat, and when you eat it."

Well, technically I qualify. I did read In Defense of Food and I have been thinking about health and nutrition. I have serious doubts about my ability/commitment to do this every day for a week, but here at least is Day 1. It wasn't my most exemplary day, but how could I turn down a chance to talk about food?

Breakfast (9:00)
*1 soft-boiled egg (anyone have a good protein alternative to eggs? I'm almost done with eggs for breakfast)
*small bowl of Grape Nuts (which I could eat every day, as I confessed to Leah and Lauren tonight)
*large mug of Lady Grey

Lunch (12:00)
*large bowl of baked potato soup
*side of bread
*Mango Ceylon tea in a disposable cup (very disappointing for me, since I don't like the taste of disposable cups and don't see the need for them when I could just use a mug -- I didn't ask in time for the mug and was too lazy/shy to correct the situation)

Dinner (7:00)
*2.25 rolls
*small salad with red onion, mushrooms, feta and unknown dressing
*small to medium portion of fettuccine with salmon, asparagus and lemon butter (I think)
*small portion of walnut apple pie with a bite of cinnamon ice cream

Comments:
Not a typical day for me, since I don't usually eat out. Joe also gives himself a grade, but I don't feel qualified to grade myself. I feel like that's a job for Dr. Rice or something.