redwinelover's Journal, 28 April 2011

So I was MIA for a week, but what a week! A week ago I had a ladies wine night here which turned out to be lots of fun. A couple of the women stayed until after 1:00am, so that was really nice. Now we're a group of six, hopefully seven if one can start making it soon. The next day I was not quite up to working out if you catch my drift. But went for coffee with my favorite next door neighbor and had a really nice time. She's been out of town most of each month doing consulting work over the last several months, so lots to catch up about.

Saturday my brother came in from CA. I always have a great time with him and it's becoming a tradition for him to spend birthdays here with me in AZ. He's a BIG drinker, and I'm an idiot and try to keep up! So diet and exercise went out the window in spite of my best intentions. Oh well. My husband and I did get up before the crack of dawn and do a hike - probably about a 6 mile one... maybe 7. Glad I got that one in, though, as I didn't exercise again until yesterday (Wed.) So really I guess I missed three days of working out - not as bad as it seemed at the time.

Saturday I decided to take us around the world in beers. Off the top of my head we visited... Jamaica, Mexico, Holland, Belgium, one from San Jose, CA, another Belgium beer (because it is rated 98 points and voted the Best Beer in the World... and it WAS), then on to England (yum... Newcastle) and back to Germany for a failed attempt at a Black & Tan. That's where you pour a bottle of a pale ale in a BIG beer mug, then pour a can of Guinness slowly over the back of a spoon tilted at a 45 degree angle into the glass. When you do it right (my husband made some for us on Sunday that were beautiful), you have the pale ale on the bottom and the dark beer on top. Really cool. Ah, but my attempt failed. (tasted great, though). Then we went back to Mexico and to England a couple more times. Yup. I was feeling it the next day!

Sunday, early evening, after we had an Easter dinner (and Black & Tan's...hahahaha) my kids had friends come over. My brother and I love their friends and we were sort of celebrating my brother's birthday by having them over. Really nice bunch of kids - love them all but have a few favorites :). We had a great time, perfect patio weather... and my brother and I drank far too much wine! But it was a nice evening and my brother was happy, so that's what matters.

Monday was his 45th birthday. We both woke up feeling it. Did what we could to feel human because we had a big happy hour afternoon/evening planned. Oh, we'd done some shopping and stuff, too, hit local stores and a couple of wine stores, etc. Went to Valle Luna for happy hour - got there about 4:00 and started drinking those giant mugs of Blue Moons. Like, 30 - 32 oz mugs. Ate lots of chips and salsa, finally ordered a basket of tacos to share, kept drinking. Holy cow. I can't remember drinking THIS much beer ... ever. Finally decided we couldn't drink any more - no room at the inn. Called my daughter and her girlfriend to pick us up. Oh man, I felt horrible and couldn't hang out with my brother and went upstairs to bed. Well, got sick first, but you didn't need to know that part. Only reason I'm putting it in there is for the weight factor. Anyway, turns out he was only up for about another hour before he crashed out, too. And he said he had a fun birthday, so that's all that mattered.

My brother left the following day - I decided I needed to fast, at least one day, probably two. But I made him a big breakfast and packed up a bag of snacks, water and sandwich for him for the drive home. Had a great time, way too much alcohol involved, but a lot of fun, lots of laughs, and hopefully some good memories for him, too. So I fasted Tues., wanted to work out, but I was so exhausted from the previous five days that I just didn't have it in me. But I did work out yesterday, and fasted yesterday, too.

Reason I put that in about getting sick like that? Because I know my weight was way up - only takes a few days of food and drink (especially beer!) to add five to seven pounds. I didn't get on the scale before I fasted on Tues., but as of this morning, I'm at 127. I probably shouldn't record it unless it's the same tomorrow. And if I am...YIPPEE!!! Because I want my weight range between 123 - 127, with 125 being my goal.

Long entry, wanted to catch up.