January 23, 2012

I'm bouncing as I type.  I'm sitting on the stability ball instead of a chair tonight at the computer.  I'm hoping it is helpful for my back.  Not that we needed another person in the house with back pain, but yes - since Friday night I've been also dealing with lower back pain.  Not sure what my cause is, but hoping it goes away on its own.  Now I am more empathetic to Andy's pain that he's been dealing with for over a year.   It's no fun.

On days like this I'm thankful for leftovers (or gulp...even a frozen dinner).  To think of having to bundle up and go out to the cold car, drive in the snow, to try to get some lunch is so unappealing.  Today Andy and I both had our turkey dinner leftovers from last night; tomorrow we'll have to rely on a frozen meal (although I'm partial to the Byerly's Wild Rice Soup which is actually good). Anything is better than going out in the cold.

Tonight for 'dessert' I had a piece of toast with my mom's raspberry freezer jam on it.  She gave me a few jars last time I visited and it is so yummy.  Tastes so fresh and reminds me of 'butter bread with jelly' as a kid.  Thanks Mom.

Emma's last dance show of the season is on Saturday at Cathedral.  It is a fundraiser called the Catholic Jamboree - where all of the Catholic High School dance teams from the area come together and raise money for a cause.  This year we are hosting it and the cause is ALS (Lou Gehrig's Disease) since it has affected the father of two of our dancers.  I think it will be a nice show - not too long and with some really great teams.

We're trying to be more health-conscious around here (must be the time of the year).  One thing that Emma and I have been doing lately is for a snack we are sharing a smoothie, that we make homemade in the blender.  We take some crushed ice  - letting our freezer ice crusher do that work - and dump it into the blender.  Throw in some lowfat vanilla yogurt, some milk, some fruit, and whip it up.  We've done it with frozen strawberries, pineapple, or banana with a little peanut butter.  Good source of fruit, calcium, and protein - and it kind of feels like a 'treat' too.

That's all for tonight.  Goodnight.