In which I don't have nearly enough fried food

JD had a hankering for some Chanan's this weekend.  We tried to eat moderately beforehand so as not to blow the calorie budget.  It was a little easier for him since he did 12 miles while I was sleeping in this morning.

Still love the fact that our local joint is a Mongolian grill

I started with soup and plantains, as one does.

And then a bunch of vegetables, a little tofu, and some chicken.  Note:  not as good when  you cut back on the sauces.  It tasted primarily of parsley.

And more veggies, and one piece each of coconut and General Tso's chicken, because they are hard to resist.  Plus several french fry bits.

Then, the traditional honeydew pieces with loquat

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loquat

There was some kind of manufacturing error with my fortune cookie.  I got two cookies (well, one cookie and some crumbs) and three fortunes.

After the restaurant we went grocery shopping.  I stocked up on veggies and fruits.  That was most of the cart actually.  When I got home I cleaned and packaged enough for all my snacks this week.  If nothing else my upcoming week will be crunchy.

Sadly I wasn't actually full after all that.  Or after all that plus grocery shopping plus a couple of hours.  I went into the living room away from all the food to read for a while.  However, I live in a houseful of cats, so I was not left in peace.

First Olli tried to shoot me with his laser beams.  He has cleverly concealed himself under the rug where nobody can see him.  At all.

Dori either doesn't realize how hard it is to read with her between my face and everything else, or she doesn't care.  Guess which.

So it was a pretty exciting day here at Chez Dori.  Whew!  I'm going to have to take a nap to recover.

The hiker hobble is a wee bit excessive

In an attempt to get back to my regularly scheduled life, I met up with DeLee this weekend and we went for our regular walk in the park.  Both of us found it more strenuous than usual, and it took us longer than usual.  The lunch afterward, however, was completely normal.

Although, normally when you go out to lunch the cashier doesn't exclaim "Where you been?!" because you haven't been there for a month.  And the waiter doesn't ask where your husband is.  Probably the waiter doesn't look knowing when you say "Have you heard of DragonCon?"  Also, the waiter probably isn't shocked that you want a regular drink rather than diet.

I'm trying to remember how long I've been going to that restaurant. 12 years?  It kinda shows.  They never said a word over the years as I brought in a succession of men.  About the men, that is.  I bet they wondered, though.  They noticed when JD and I got engaged, and then when we got married.  They're probably waiting for me to show up with a swollen belly.  (Ain't gonna happen.)  I've observed their pregnancies, and then their babies, who turned into children, who are kind of tall by now.  I like it.  I like the continuity of a neighborhood restaurant, where they remember you and care what happens to you.  They've been there for my dates, my breakups, my illnesses, my own little tragedies and celebrations.  I worry about them and how their business does when the economy is down.  If they closed it would leave an unreasonably large hole in my life.

Anyway.  This post is not about that restaurant.

Before I got off track on food (it's a hiker thing) I was talking about how the hiking was harder than usual.  I still feel kind of tired and sore from my vacation, I think.  Dang that was a tough hike.  It's going to take me some time to bounce back.  I don't know what I'd do if I were thruhiking.  You don't have weeks of bounce back time on a thruhike.

I wonder how I would have felt, physically, had I had time to complete my thruhike last year.  I felt great in Vermont.. maybe not so much by the time I finished New Hampshire and Maine?

Shoot, I just poked my left knee with a finger and it hurt when I touched it.  I don't think I've ever had this level of post hike soreness before when I haven't actually sprained / strained / broken something.  It makes me feel decrepit.  One lousy month of hiking and I'm gimping around.  I didn't have any particular falls or incidents that would have given me traumatic injuries, but I think the sustained effort of big steps up and down has taken a toll on my knees and ankles.  If they're not feeling less ouchy in a week or so I guess I'll have to go talk to my doctor and admit I did the crazy long distance hiking thing again, and get her to help me.  I hate doing that.  She keeps suggesting that I take up easier hobbies.

Plus there's the fact that I'm not overflowing with energy.  I really should be, by now.  Instead I'm sitting on my arse (after a 3 hour morning hike, admittedly) instead of cleaning out the fridge, which dearly needs it.

Perhaps I will clean the fridge out tomorrow.

Or perhaps I will nap.

What a nice day, despite what you'd think

Today was such a good day.  I wouldn't have thought that based on the morning, but it was really nice.

First I slept in until nearly eleven.  I got twelve hours of sleep!  Which I needed.  It felt *great*.  And then I went downstairs and JD cooked me some eggs.  Then I checked my email.


Pluto had destroyed his blanket.  It was in pieces.  Argh!  Abort plans!  I called over to Dover Saddlery in Crofton to see if they had the same model blanket available.  Nope.  I said "He's wide in the shoulder and barrel, but he's short.  He takes a 75. Got anything that would fit him?"  The agent suggested a "Full Fit".  They didn't have a 75, but they did have a 78.  I told her I'd take anything at this point.  She put it on hold for me.







So instead of heading out for a hike first thing, JD and I drove to Crofton.  We were in and out of the store in minutes.  The blanket was on sale because they're clearing out winter inventory.  With that and a bag of horse cookies to keep in JD's trunk, we were off to the barn.

The new blanket fits Very Nicely.  It's about 3 inches too long, which is to be expected seeing as how the size they had available was 3 inches too big.  But other than that it looks good. 

After that we continued with our original plan for the day, which began with hiking.  We strode macho-ly around the park in the cold.  JD didn't expect to see any other hikers but I knew better.  In fact we saw an average number of walkers and runners. 

On the way out we saw a Maryland license plate that said "GA 2 ME", which of course is an Appalachian Trail thruhiker license plate.  I took a picture.  And then immediately after that we saw a different car with a "2175" sticker on the bumper.  That's an AT sticker!  My people were there!  Makes sense though.  Most people have more sense than to go hiking when it's 20 degrees out.

About halfway through the walk we had both started getting hungry and thinking about Chanan's.  Mmm, Chinese buffet.  With a Mongolian grill.  Droooool.  We got to Chanan's after a short drive and there demolished the buffet.  It was originally supposed to be lunch, but with my late rising and our detour to Crofton, it was nearly 5 pm.  So we had dinner.  Having skipped lunch, I actually stayed within my calorie range for the day.  And that's its own little miracle, right there.

Doggie relaxing after a tough day of sleeping on the sofa.

MY PEOPLE!  Aw, love me some thruhikers.

The blanket that Pluto disassembled this morning.  Completely destroyed.

His handsome and suddenly purchased new blankie.

How he spent the morning wandering around.  Bit chilly for a sports bra if you ask me.

 

 

Also?  Our dog likes popcorn.

I'm bout to sucker punch a germ

You know what I hate about these winter illnesses?  It's easy to hate the fever, and the aches, and the fatigue.  But what I really, REALLY hate is how long it goes on.  Every day you think "I'll get a good night's rest and I'll feel better in the morning."  And it doesn't work.  Because the bugs aren't done with you yet.  You are the bug's bitch, and you are going to suffer until it is done with you.  And your puny little immune system.  The bug sneers at your immune system.

I'm sure JD feels the same way.  He's been sick twice as long, and with a nasty cough.  All I really have is a wussy illness.  JD has a manly illness.  His illness could kick my illness' butt.  (And I wish it would.)

Even the dog doesn't feel that great.  I'm really glad the horse has somebody watching him, because lord only knows how he feels..  I sure haven't been out to see him.  That whole "ride twice a week, minimum" thing?  Not happening.  Anytime soon anyway.  And seeing as how it's freaking JANUARY I figure by the time I'm feeling pretty perky, a foot of snow will dump on us.[1]

Um.  I feel like I should say something that isn't complaining.[2]

So JD and I met for lunch and he had the genius idea of heading over to Chanan for delicious Mongolian  + Chinese buffet.  I am not being sarcastic.  It was wonderful.  I had a plate full of Mongolian veggies and it knocked my socks off.  Ah, Chanan.  Not so good for the diet, but wonderful for the tongue.  I totally did not stay within my dietary calorie range today.  But, as JD pointed out, I've been sick and it's no good to diet when you're sick.[3] On account of your body is working hard to fight off invaders, and all.[4] 

BUT!  I was fairly good.  I didn't have anything coated and fried, and I didn't have Fluffy Dough(tm)[5].  I was sad that there were no Szechuan string beans today.  I love those things with an unnatural passion. 

JD went on up to bed around 8 (again) and I believe I will follow him soon.  We persist in our misguided idea that some day we will sleep long enough to wake up refreshed.  I know it's crazy but it's all I got.




[1]  But if not: Tara, we have a riding date at some nonspecific point in my healthy future.

[2] I'm thinking, I'm thinking!

[3] If he was mistaken, I don't want to know.

[4]  Really, at this point I don't take much convincing.

[5] Kind of the Chinese buffet equivalent of a yeast donut, with no hole.