I've got THE power!

To say these are dark times is an understatement....
But as of last night at 7:30 we got power back ~ thanks to a crew from Massachusetts.  There are line workers here from as far away as California and Canada - it truly is amazing how much damage this storm did. 

Here is life in Bullets 

• Its Election Day - get out there and vote - there are people on Long Island who lost their homes and are still waiting on lines to exercise their right to vote - that really chokes me up.
• There has been a gas shortage here - not sure if you've heard - but people have had to wait up to 2 hours for gas - most of the small stations are closed and the major ones get one delivery a day.  It feels very Mad Max -  There are a lot of smug Prius drivers....
• Now that the tankers are back in port and delivering the gas there is an ethanol shortage that is holding up delivery
• We moved out of our house for two days with the dogs - it got too damn cold.  I am so thankful that we had that option
• Now that my community is back on the grid and people are slowly getting back to life we are trying to get supplies to the hardest hit towns - I plan on going up west to volunteer - I have no clothes to donate - I gave all my old stuff away last spring 
• The people need blankets, batteries, water, shovels, cleaning supplies, diapers and winter clothes.
• We are expecting a Northeaster tomorrow - the power crews that were at our house yesterday we joking that the power will be back out on Thursday due to the high winds - not funny
• I have to clean my fridge out today and toss everything....I'm skerred to open it...

Weight loss and Band News

• There is no news - I have not stepped on the scale
• My jeans are very tight
• I shouldn't drink a bottle of wine at night and eat Halloween candy - that's just stupid
• I have not been on the bike b/c our trails are a mess
• We did do some clearing on Sunday but more needs to be done
• My band is tight 
• I started eating egg salad - I'm now addicted
• Yesterday I took a break at work and power walked two miles to the Ocean with a co-worker

Moving Forward.....

• Protein Shake this morning
• Work out - bike this afternoon
• Get back to my routine
• Back to Blogging and catching up on everyone's blogs
• I missed you guys!!

Hi - Post Sandy

We are so lucky - even though there is still no power at our house.
I just yesterday got to watch TV at a friends house.  I had no idea how bad it was.  
I'm struggling with working out and food - still in a bit of shock from the storm but should be getting back to normal soon -
Here are some photos of the week....

Sag Main Beach Parking lot in Sagaponack -

The essentials

Ed - in the glow of the fire!

Ed bundled up

Sammy

The Bay - the morning of

OCEAN BEACH - NO MORE DUNES

KATIE LEE JOEL'S  HOUSE - ALMOST INT HE OCEAN - THAT'S IRRIGATION LINES HANGING

THE PARKING LOT WAS WHERE THE GIRL IS STANDING

WISHING FOR POWER

  

The Aftermath

No power, phone or Internet and very little cell service but we are fine.
The power is due back in another 5 days. Oy!
I've been eating my through this.
Grrrrr.
Hoping to post some crazy pictures soon - we were very very lucky a lot of people lost their homes further west of us.
Hope everyone is good - I've not been able to read any blogs.

Oh Sandy

Godspeed.  - I have always wanted to type that....in a serious actressey kind of way.

The power is still on and I think them major problem here will be coastal flooding.  Storms make me hungry - why did I think it was ok to eat a wedge of brie and a sleeve of ritz crackers? 
I did not race yesterday... I was a total p#$@y.  It looked like it would be rainy in NJ and windy and I felt bad having Mo drive me there.  Turns out my friend raced as me and came in #2 over all!  Dang!  yay!  
My friend just texted me from NYC - even Starbucks is closed.  This is serious.  

Everyone in the path of Sandy - stay safe - I'm already bored so will be heading out for a run.... 
  

The Ocean yesterday

Local Supermarket yesterday morning

The bread aisle - last night

 We are Ready - below is my emergency kit.

Fart Free Chili - its da bomb

By Popular Demand - here is the recipe:

http://www.peta.org/living/vegetarian-living/recipes/slow-cooker-chili.aspx#

Once you print this out - make a note to add 1 can of medium olives, a can of corn both drained and when you add the chili powder and cumin add about a tablespoon or more of mesquite seasoning - to your taste -
Its an epic dish loved by many many meat eaters.
It makes a ton of food - I give a bunch away and freeze some also.
Sometimes I even make vegan cornbread to go with it....also super yummy!   
The reason it is fart free  ***** rinse all beans first and then they cook for over 8 hours - NO GAS!

In other news - there is a storm heading my way....oy.  I think I can still get to NJ for my race tomorrow...planning on it unless I hear differently.  We rode our beloved trails yesterday - the foliage is perfect and it is warm and calm....but I know after this week they will be shut down and we will be spending a lot of time with chain saws clearing instead of riding....such is life.
I'm making slow cooker chick pea curry and some other things to hold us over but I think the east end of long island will be out of the main path...
In weight loss news - my clothes are tight.  Fooey.

Did you know that dr. ruth makes wine???

Last light of fall

Trail Blaze and fungi

Bike Porn..last ride on the trails

Ed in the Wild...

 

Ten Things Thursday ~ yuppers!

Thanks Laura Belle~ you Rock!

1.  Yesterday was a good day.  Food-wise a win!  Thanks to Miss Lorie for the support! 

2.  I got in my 5k trail run at the end of the day - took 1:30 off my last run ...didnt realize I was going that fast.  I even did some situps and squats too.  I feel great.

3. The weather for Sunday....no looking good...hurricane?  What the flip!  Dangit!  What is it with the last weekend in October?  Last year we had a freak snow storm.  urgh!

4.  Making my famous fart free slow cooker vegan mesquite chilli - so yummy!

5.  Today I pick up my geared bike from the shop - I had aggressive tires put on for the race.  

6.  I found a house in Vermont on 21 acres that is totally off the grid - on top of a hill with huge mountain views and is brand new.....I want to be there!  only 230K - I showed it to Mo ....he's not jumping on the hippy wagon as quickly as I am.

7.  Today - Mountain Biking after work - I'm psyched!

8.  I'll not make it to 10 ~ have to get cooking!

      

Getting Real

Ok - there is a lot of stuff that I want to write about this morning - my awsome MTB ride yesterday, office pranks and this weekend's upcoming race.  
But more importantly I want to write about food.  
Going cold turkey in particular.
Thats what worked in the past it will work again.
I have been reading up on the ladies in maintenance and they only occasionaly have a treat on the weekends or here and there.  I'm not sure when it happened but I've been "using" to get through the day.  Hard phone call? - sure have a Pumkin Spice Latte - 400+ cals 
Bad Appointment? - of course you deserve some chocolate 600+ cals
Have to run around all day with no break?  I must slam down some peanut m&ms to get through
Watching Dexter and Homeland - doesnt everyone need grilled cheese and frozen yogurt?

Am I stupid? What the hell is going on here?  I read a post recently - sorry I forgot who posted it - about how being a food addict means you can't be casual with food - its always going to be a problem - (like crack).  I must be vigilant about it.  I don't get to just casually have ice cream around the house.  I don't get to use the excuse that I am too busy to grocery shop and make my food.  I don't get eat what everyone else eats at the pub or when we go out.  At least not now.  I'm too close to the edge and out of control.  

Yesterday I went mountain biking with the boys at the bike park - 14 miles - and lots of fun - I was exhausted and rewarded myself with Edy's frozen yogurt and a grilled cheese...

Back to basics today.  Instead of being overwhelmed by the big picture...I'm going to handle each situation individually.