4, 3, 2, 1

FOUR …
grandchildren.

THREE …
of them soon-to-be five-year-old boys.

TWO …
restaurants.

ONE …
great day!

But a long day, indeed.

This set of young'ns lives three-and-a-half hours away, which is on the cusp of an overnight trip. We've always made it a day trip, and as the children get older it becomes more and more difficult to leave. We arrived mid-morning, in time to go to the boys' first t-ball practice (what a HOOT!), and didn't leave until 4:30 p.m.

I don't write much about my family, especially my grandchildren, but I'm sure you know how much I'd love to. I just don't think it's my place. It was fun spending time with them and I'm so happy they're all healthy and active and sociable and they love having us visit.

Birthday presents might have had something to do with that. Heh.

My husband and I took everyone out for lunch after practice, to Pike's Old-Fashioned Soda Shop, which was paleo-perfect – they offered a burger in a bowl, no bread, with a fresh fruit cup on the side. Fun fact: Shallow Hal was filmed there.

The irony did NOT escape me.

We had dinner on the way home at one of the many Cracker Barrel restaurants dotting I-77 between NC and WV. Grilled pork chop, baked sweet potato and turnip greens. I didn't know Cracker Barrel  sweet potatoes came topped with a brown sugar/cinnamon mixture, but the server was most accommodating in replacing it with a plain one.

I did not feel deprived, not once all day. I was appropriately hungry when I sat down for a meal and satisfied when I finished. My husband strayed from the plan (he's been very supportive), and said he honestly wished he hadn't, after all.

Disc.i.pline. It's definitely working. The only DietBet weigh-ins that count are the first and last, but we are encouraged to check in frequently. I've decided once a week is frequently enough, and this morning I'm down 3.5 pounds from last Sunday's weigh-in.

That sounds like a lot to lose in one week, but I'm not quibbling. There's money on the line!

I'm walking this morning, aiming for six miles. But I'm walking on my very hilly road instead of the nice, flat road that runs along Indian Creek. So it might end up being five. Either way, I'll beat my lowest week of the year, and that's really the goal du jour.

Hope your jour is a good one.

May he stay …

forever young.

Happy birthday to my favorite entertainer, songwriter, poet and musician – Bob Dylan is 71 today!

So easy to remember his birthday, when it is 10 years and one day before mine. Heh.

So yesterday was a very long day, and I came home from work in a heavy downpour to find the power was out. My husband and I went to a the local Chinese restaurant for dinner. We're going out for dinner tonight, to celebrate my birthday.

We're going out for dinner tomorrow, the first day of his mother's family reunion, and we're going out for dinner with the clan on Saturday, as well.

I will be well and truly SICK of restaurants by the time Sunday gets here.

Today, though, I will play Bob Dylan music and enjoy a day off and get ready to greet age 61 with grace.

It is what it is

You can't clean your plate at a Mexican restaurant and expect to see good results from the scale the following morning.

Also? If you're me, you can't not step on the scale, no matter how much you said you wouldn't.

That number is information only, reflecting one highly salted and, truth be told, not very delicious meal. The company was much better than the carne asada.

I will MOVE ON.

My husband and I are headed out to spend the day with his grandchildren and their parents. Once your children have children, the little ones are the focus of the visit for all the adults. We old folks want to play with and read to and delight in the little ones' antics, while the middle generation beams with pride and the babes love showing off for all of us.

We can't wait.

We're taking them out for lunch, and I'm sure the restaurant choice will be more healthful than was last night's. Their mama is very tuned in to fresh, whole, organic food, and we've always been well-fed when she picks the restaurant.

It will be a long day, with plenty o'road time. I'm planning to, hopefully, gracefully, go with the flow. It's something I've been working on lately. The family drama and water issues have been good practice.

Oh, and we're leaving in 35 minutes and I haven't even showered yet. Gotta run!