So Adorable

American Idol Finale

Have I mentioned that I now live in the world's coolest apartment? Every time I look out the windows I'm amazed that this place is mine. My friends' reaction tonight confirmed that yes, it really is all that. I hosted a small American Idol finale party tonight. I've had two glasses of wine, which is a night of heavy drinking for me, so I'm aware I'm being even less linear than usual. Anyway, check out my mountain and the ship barging (wha ha) into my bedroom.



Tonight there were a lot of good laughs, and shrieking when David Cook won. We were sure it was going to be David Archuletta. This is the first year I've been pleasantly surprised by who won. In attendance tonight were Christy, Faauu, Robert, and Faauu's boyfriend Gerard who sat at my desk and taught an online class while the rest of us were acting like happy idiots.



So, you're wondering, how is the Atkins diet going? That's a rhetorical and mean-spirited question. And you didn't even ask it. Of course it's not going. How can anyone over the age of 20 possibly survive on it. The one sacrifice I've made is I've stopped eating bread. And I've lost...I don't know. 15 ounces or something. This really is going to be a tough journey, but I'll make it somehow. In the meantime, I've got a great new goal: I'm going to start drinking more wine. What do you think?

More Views

This is what I look out on from my desk. Double click on the photo and you'll be able to see Stadium High School, mountains, and other cool stuff.

This is the view from the other set of windows in the living room.

When you walk to the end of my street, this is what you see.

At Your Own Risk

"Atkins??! Noooo. You don't want to do that. Just go on the Brittney diet!"

These words of wisdom are dispensed to me from the Penelope's coffee shop girls, one of whom - a sweet 23 year old artist- has a swingy chalk-white ponytail. Feigning interest, I ask for an explanation of the Brittney diet. "Half!" I'm told. "Just eat half of whatever you want!"

Next she'll tell me to try 100-calorie packs of Oreos.

I want to tell you this seriously: Do not ever give me a 100-calorie pack of Oreos. Giving me a 100-calorie pack of Oreos is like giving a lion a meatball. It's just not enough and you could encounter a dangerous reaction.

Do not give me little feather-weight packets of anything unless you plan on giving me six or seven. Granted, if you give me multiples I will proceed to do what I did with my one-week supply of daily, Barbie-sized, Jenny Craig chocolate bars: I will eat them all within 10 minutes. Actually, probably more like 5. The Jenny Craig incident happened well over 10 years ago, but I assure you I have not changed.

What it comes down to is I am not capable of moderation when it comes to anything involving sugar and / or flour. Yeah, I know, you are and that's great, but sugar and flour are my heroin. You don't tell someone to just cut back on their heroin usage.

Yes, I know the Atkins diet has risks. Yes, I know many gain all the weight back after they stop. Yes, I know it's gross to live on animal carcasses and celery, but going low carb is the only way I've ever lost weight.

So if Wendy's (ugh, I'm referring to myself in the 3rd person) Incredible Weight Loss Journey is ever going to start in earnest low carb it will have to be.

Let's just hope I don't eat seven bunless cheeseburgers.

Views from New Apartment

Light

Winery Tour

Faauu, Christy and I went on a day tour of two wineries and Snoqualamie Falls. First Stop was Silver Lake winery, where the event host was not pleased to see our group of 17 people ("I have a huge group coming but, um, ok, well hold on..."). Ten minute wait followed by a rather rushed tasting of four wines. My favorite was the raspberry wine (ok, I don't have a sophisticated palette. I'm nice to dogs and needy people. Leave me alone). They had many flavors of fruit wines. I say how wonderful.

It was the first warm day of the season, so the Chateau St. Michelle tasting was conducted outside. To be honest, I don't remember the wines that well but the setting was gorgeous. After the tasting, we sat under a tree and just relaxed and talked, which was of course lovely.

I have no idea what Faauu and Christy are doing, but when I saw them like that I told them to hold the pose. Why am I not in any of the photos? Because I'm unhappy with my weight, that's why. I'm contemplating doing posting a photo every week so all of you can watch my amazing weight loss journey (I'm aiming for 35 pounds), but first I want to be sure there will be an amazing weight loss journey.

Snoqualamie Falls was waterfall-y as waterfalls tend to be.It was hard to get the full experience by competing for space against the railing. There is a lodge just above the falls, visible in the photo above. If the falls can be heard with the windows open at night, I'd like to stay there sometime.