Up North (& Out There doing it)

What's really going on here?

So 6 days into this whole Atkins thing, a couple of things have become remarkably clear (and some have nothing to do with Atkins)

(1) Major factor to the excess baggage -- eating just a touch when feeding the kids.  It has been eye opening how many times I've had to stop myself.

(2) I freakin' love Pizza and Peanut Butter & Jelly sandwiches (the later, especially on the weekend).

(3) Vegetables have definitely been sold short by me.

(4) Julie & Juila -- horrible flick to check out when you've decided to go on a diet for the first time in your life 5 days before. (otherwise -- not that bad for what it is)

And some Atkins observations:

(1) I am eating steak, bacon, etc that I typically would feel bad about eating but its part of the plan and that's great.

(2) If you want a light snack, its very hard to come up with something quick, and all of the Atkins 'food' that you can buy in a Duane Reade  are super double chocolate fudge, or caramel chocolate crush (making those names up, but you get the idea). 

What I really don't like about it -- there seems to be a real gap in healthy based snacks that are pre-proceeded and produced by Atkins.  Eating junk has to be a number one contributor for most people's interest in a diet in the first place and having these types of 'shortcuts' to help out seems to do nothing but develop additional bad habits (maybe its one of those self fulfilling prophecies).

Water, there is nothing like it – except the bubbly.

Two times this trip, I just wanted a bottle of water. I really don’t like Naïve, pardon me, I meant Evian (spell it backwards) water. I know it was one of the firsts before bottled water was cool and probably will stick around as bottled water isn’t as cool anymore, but I just don’t like the taste. I really don’t so I try and avoid it. However, when you are buying water in foreign countries in a foreign tongue, sometimes, especially out a vending machine, you can get tripped up. I did, twice.

I ended up with the bubbly water. Not that it is really that bad, in fact, under the right circumstances, I might say that its actually good and perhaps a good alternative to Coke,  etc, but if you want water, its just not the same. No if ands of buts about it.

Dinner in Nuremburg

We decided to immediately go out to grab a bite to eat in the town square when I got there. Of course, as I’m on the way there, I have this realization that Aunt Ginger had mentioned to me several times that nothing is open on Sunday, and she kept saying ‘Nothing’ which is the realization that I have as I’m flying into Nuremburg – oh great, its Sunday –I wonder if anything will be open in this 24 hour trip of mine.

Turns out, the restaurants are mostly all open, so dinner and walking around (which is what we wanted to do anyways) was a OK.

We went to a great dinner spot and had a great Germany meal. Not necessarily traditional Germany food, but a very German looking place with great décor, etc. It was interesting that when we got there, at what I would say is a respectable 6 PM; there was no one in the restaurant. By the time we left, we were one of four tables sitting down.

 

Absolutely Brilliant

A friend of ours caught the concept of the 'Switch Witch' on the Today show on Halloween. No secret that we love Halloween so Trick or Treating is great fun but generates a lot of candy.

We were getting a little sick of  'I want another Chewy Thing (Tootsie Roll)' said in a whiny voice by D so we decided to have the Switch Witch come on Saturday night and scoop up all of the candy from our house and bring him and G a present.  A little bit like the Tooth Fairy, but instead of waiting for your teeth to fall out, this is trying to prevent your teeth from falling out.

It worked brilliant! And here we are getting ready for the Switch Witch's arrival.

The Tin Cup, extended

This is big time. We've always had a discussion about what it means to be a great diner. The key is in ordering a Milk Shake and what comes back.

If the order comes back it with a tin, the place is strong. The local restaurant gave you the extra in a pitcher.

That's strong.

Hate the Bathroom Attendant

I hate the bathroom attendant. Out last night at Pink Elephant, which had something already kind of forced & strange about it, it was so annoying. First off, the men's room had no label on it at all and then when you walked in, it was like a small supply closet. So then you've got to ask yourself who the hell wants to be taking a leak back to back with the bathroom attendant. And even worse, then you are supposed to tip him.

Sorry for the shaft buddy, but I didn't tip.