Thursday, March 19, 2009

Quick Update

It's 8:30 and I need to get writing. But I thought I'd go ahead and say hello, say that amazingly nobody is sick, that I've sat down to work every morning this week at 8:30, just like a real writer.

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Last night Jack and I went to see "Fiddler on the Roof," starring Topol, who pretty much is Mr. Tevye, and who starred the the 1970s film version of "Fiddler." I bought cheap seat tickets, and now sort of regret that I didn't shell out for orchestra seats, just because Jack seemed really into the show, and while even as far back as we were we could see everything, you lose out on some of the theater magic from such a distance.

Oh, well, Yet another decision I regret. The good news is, Jack will have five hundred other chances to see "Fiddler" in his lifetime. It's such a great show, though, like any musical I've ever been to with the possible exception of "Jesus Christ Superstar," it goes on too long, and has at least two songs that should be cut.

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Yesterday I tried eating oatmeal for breakfast. I put a little brown sugar in it and a sliced banana. It smelled great. It looked great. This was really, Irish steel cut oatmeal, not that instant junk. Oh, if only I had liked it! All that fiber goodness! But no. The fact is, I've yet to meet a breakfast grain (including grits, but don't tell my southern husband that) I liked. Maybe there are secrets to enjoying oatmeal? If you have any, let me know.

In general, I'm trying to heat healthier. I've quit Weight Watchers; it just wasn't doing it for me this time. I should say that I recommend WW highly if you want to lose weight and feel group support would help. I lost a lot of weight my first go-round with WW, and found it to be a sensible, easy-to-follow program.

The problem is, I've been dieting all my life, and sooner or later I flunk whatever diet I'm on. So now I'm trying not to be on a diet. I'm trying to eat whole foods (and I'm not doing any processed foods for Lent, by which I mean foods with additives, etc.--I'm perfectly willing to buy a jar of organic spaghetti sauce that has been "processed" in a factory, as long as it doesn't contain much other than tomatoes, herbs and a little olive oil), focusing on nutrition and calories. Yep, I'm writing down everything I eat and counting calories. I don't always meet my goal, but at least I'm aware of what I'm eating, and because nothing is forbidden other than processed foods, there's no way for me to "cheat." I can either eat enough calories or too many.

We'll see how that goes.

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Our seed order has shipped. Now I'm just trying to think of ways to convince the Man (i.e. my husband--I'm trying out a nickname for him) to let me plough up the front yard. We have a big sunny spot in the backyard, but that's for vegetables. The only other big patch that gets full sun is in the front yard right by the road. I think a front yard filled with flowers would be lovely, don't you? And then nobody would have to mow it.

Really, I'd love to have a big, crazy folkart kind of garden a la Howard Finster, filled with whirligigs and craziness and amazing flowers. Just a big whacked out space. Slowly I'm going to convince the Man that this is a fabulous idea. It will take five or six years, but over time I'll wear him down. You just watch.

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Off to write like the good little writer that I am. Have a most marvelous day, everyone!

7 comments:

Danielle said...

I can see your garden right now, and I have no doubts you will win the Man over to your side.

Glad you're back to a writing schedule.

Wish I had gotten tickets to Fiddler with you... sounds great. My dad often axed numbers from musicals. I will have to ask him if he did it with Fiddler.

Left-Handed Housewife said...

Let me know if he did--and if so, which ones. I think more directors should axe songs. I think it should be a priority.

debbie bailey said...

I just saw Topol in Fiddler on the Roof in Durham, NC. He was wonderful! I was crying one song and laughing the next. I'm glad they sang all the songs. It wouldn't have been the same otherwise. I'm going to watch the movie again soon.

I just discovered your blog and enjoy it!

debbie bailey said...

P.S. I'm lefthanded too. That's what drew me to your blog.

Left-Handed Housewife said...

Oh, Danielle, you have greater faith in the Man than I do. I don't know if I'll ever get him to let the front yard get wild.

Debbie, thanks for stopping by! I should say that I like all the songs in Fiddler, but the first act goes on about ten minutes too long for me. I say this having seen Fiddler about half a dozen times, so you know I'd love even if they added two songs ...

I was thinking I'd like to watch the movie again soon, especially since I'd like to see Topal's face close up! I hope your seats were better than ours.

Tracy said...

I don't enjoy breakfast cereals either. I can eat porridge but I don't really enjoy unless it has been drowned in maple syrup and smothered with pie peach pieces.

I'm a toast girl. Failing that I do fruit and vanilla yoghurt. No cereal.

Victoria said...

YES! A Howard Finster garden would be wonderful. I would like to fill our front yard with garden gnomes and pink flamigoes, and collected ornaments and crazy cactuses. But, the town teenagers would possibly steal all the decorations, so maybe not worth it. Still, I love it when people do weird creative things with their front yards. It's a service to the community..