Dinner Party a la Sonoma

Last week, my dear old friend Miss Hower--she of the voodoo doll fame--invited us to come to dinner on Sunday night.  Being the dedicated Sonoma Mama that I am, I told her we would love to, but not to be offended if I couldn't eat everything.  Because Miss Hower has been down this road with me more times than she probably cares to remember, she was immediately interested in what I could have, and made a Sonoma feast fit for, well, me on Sunday evening.  We had broiled Arctic Char with a fantastic Napa Herb rub and an avocado/tomato/cilantro topping, steamed peas, couscous, roasted sweet onions and tomatoes, salad, and all the water I could down.  Miss Hower is a fantastic cook, and I loved every last bite.

Now for a bit of the diet and personal care saga history of Miss Hower and Mental P:  We have been at it for a long time.  I won't say how long, but a looooong time.  We started in college.  We would put bandanas on our heads and take jogs together.  When it rained, we would jog in slow motion around our suite to the strains of "Chariots of Fire."  Yup.  That long ago.  Miss Hower also arrived on campus that year with a complete assortment of Erno Laszlo skin care products.  The rest of the girls were so impressed that we had all our newspapers delivered to our door under the name of, you guessed it, Erno Laszlo.  She also had so many cute little sweaters that she had to color coordinate them in her closet.  You do not want to know how many shoes she has right this very moment.

Anyway, fast forward ten years after our Vanderbilt days, and I am visiting Miss Hower in her Florida home for a "spa" weekend.  We planned a whole weekend of exercise, massage, healthy eating and relaxation.  And it went pretty well.  Until lunch on day three.  We sauntered in to a restaurant in Sarasota, Florida--a French restaurant with a very French waiter.  First, we wanted a diet drink with no caffeine.  Who the hell goes into a restaurant like this and drinks anything but wine?  Sigh.  As I recall the waiter did a whole bunch of sighing.  Then we placed our orders.  I wanted some sort of salad with, basically, none of the listed ingredients.  And everything else on the side, thank you so very much.  Miss Hower ordered the salade aux champignons.  Only she didn't want any mushrooms with that salad.  In case you don't speak French,  champignons are mushrooms.  Needless to say, I think that poor waiter had to change his shirt because he was sweating so much.  I cannot sit and write this story without laughing out loud.  Fifteen years later.  

The point of this little walk down memory lane is to say how blessed I feel to be able to say to a friend--who has graciously invited you to dinner--that you do not want any champignons, and she totally gets it.  With grace and style.  Thank you Miss Hower, you are the best, and I know you will always have my back.  xoxo, Miss Ives.

A Lady and a Diet Update

First, the lady:

Nice.

Is that what all that dieting did to you, honey?

Oh, and happy birthday Kirstie.

And another big Happy Birthday to Cool Breeze!

I am sure he and his lovely bride, Big Hair Envy, will be celebrating in an appropriate, South Beach manner.  This whole diet business was their idea.  Right?  Right?

Anyway, let's talk about me now.

Today is Day 8 for me on The Sonoma Diet.

I have lost 6 pounds since last Monday.

SIX POUNDS.

I wanted to make sure you heard me.

I feel good.

My skin looks better.

I sleep better.

I function better.

Maybe there is something to this healthy living business.

Okay, enough about me;

How's everybody else doing?

Interview Me!

My first interview with The New Yorker!  Yes, Daryl, The New Yorker!  And here is what she wants to know:

1.  If I didn't know what you looked like, would I know you?  How?  What is it that makes you memorable?   Well, I think if you heard me speak, you would know it was me.  I talk just like I write, and with a Southern accent.  And that, my friends, is what makes me memorable.  Or forgettable.  Depending on what kind of mood you're in.

2. How many pairs of shoes do you have?  Are you really a shoe junkie?  Okay, hold on, I'm going to count.  67.     And if you want to know the sandal and flip-flop count, you'll have to write to me.  I consider that classified information.  Does this make me a shoe junkie?  You tell me, but I don't think I'm even close.

3. When/How did you, Annie and Jules meet?  I met my very good Cocktail Corner friends about ten years ago when I first started dating Squazz.  He introduced us, and when we moved to the "Corner" 4 years ago, things really got interesting;)  By the way, since I am on Day 8 today of my Sonoma Diet, I haven't seen them all week.  And I miss them.  But on a positive note, I am wasting away to nuthin'!

4.  If you could live anywhere, where would that be?  Why?  I am honestly very happy right here in Fairfield County, Connecticut.  We have toyed with the idea of moving to a more moderate climate--I grew up in the South, but I love it here.  I love the pace, my friends, the activities...you name it.  I love to travel, but am always thrilled to come back home.

5.  What do you like about your job?  Well, I am about to be out of the longest running job I have ever had--and the best one ever.  My babies are going to college in August, and I like to think that they are going to be the honest and true citizens I have been nurturing.  After that?  I really want to lay off the volunteer work, and find a paying job.  I need to be with people, and I will need the dollars!  I have an MA in Communications, so if you know anyone in the area who needs a marketing/event management/right hand person, please let me know.  Mama is ready!

So that's it.  Simple.  I am ready to return the favor.

Here are the directions:

1. Leave me a comment saying, "Interview me."

2. I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the

questions).

3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.

4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview

someone else in the same post.

5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask
them five questions.

Oops...I meant to say the first 5 who said "Interview me." Now, just wait for your questions....

Guardian Angel

Noelle the cat--adopted December 1999 at 6 months

Dora the beagle mix--adopted July 2004 at 6 weeks

They are both angels.

Most of the time;)

By the way--Day Seven on Sonoma Wave One and all is well!

Bath Day

Can't we all just get along?

Cheating

I have a little confession.

  I have cheated on my diet a little bit this week. 

 Forgive me fellow hungry blogsters, for I have consumed:

1)  A Fresca.  But in my defense it was Bridge night.

2) 1/2 cup of fat free cottage cheese.  I know, cottage cheese is cheating on a diet?  But I truly feel I was allowed because I had worked out for an hour, and had 45 minutes on the treadmill that day. I was hungry.

3) 13 almonds instead of 11.  They were small.  Really.

4) An additional 1/2 cup grape tomatoes.  I can't help it, I love those suckers.

5) 4 teaspoons of olive oil on Tuesday instead of my alloted 3.  I couldn't help it.  I was watching Giada (Everyday Italian) on the Food Channel.  I won't watch that any more for a while.  Trust.

6) I had 5 ounces of meat last night instead of 4.  I am going to do extra cardio today to make up for it.

On a positive note, the alcohol-abstinence has not been as big a deal as I thought it would.  The food on the Sonoma Diet is delicious.  And everyone is still alive here.  The children are leaving for a ski weekend after school today, so that will help;)

Anybody else have anything they want to confess share?  Hm?

This-n-That Thursday

Wafting through my mind this week are a few things like these:

• I just noticed that my vitamins are for people over 50.  But I'm going to keep taking them because my mother always told me I was advanced.
• If everything has a purpose, then what purpose does dust have?
• I saw Carrie Fisher on The Bonnie Hunt Show, and it made me feel so much better about myself.  Sorry Carrie.
• I cannot get Neil Diamond's "Sweet Caroline" out of my head-- It's the karaoke version where everyone screams "so good, so good, so good!"
• When you play Bridge without wine, it is hard to remember all the cards.  True story.
• Speaking of Vitamins, and that seems to be just about all I do, I have a serious crush on Vitamin D.
• Do not ever eat a big spinach salad with red cabbage, fresh broccoli and black beans 30 minutes before an hour-long MRI.  Ever.  If you live, you will regret it.
• If you take a picture of cheese, what does it say?

That's it.  I am off to do some cardio and chop some more vegetables.  Have a lovely day my friends.  Day 3 was a snap;)