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What one common food item do you refuse to eat? 

The answer to this question is -- dill pickles.  I despise the smell of them and the taste of them.  It's too bad, because  people who like them REALLY like them, and they're a great low-calorie snack, or so I understand.  I just can't get past the god-awful stink of the things to even get them near my mouth.  And on the few occasions when I've forced myself to try, I've regretted it.

A lazy, have a cup of coffee kind of Saturday

I came home from work yesterday feeling a serious nausea enveloping me.  I didn't know whether I was coming down with something nasty, or whether I was having one of my "ocular migraines", where I get the aura and the nausea but not the headache.  From today's perspective, I think it was the weird migraine thingy.  I don't feel sick today -- just wiped out and with no energy at all, which is pretty common after a migraine, even one where you're spared the headache.

I'm planning to go out later tonight and see "Run, Fat Boy, Run"  I just love Simon Pegg -- I am looking forward to seeing this. 

Tomorrow I have no plans.  I suspect it may unfold rather as today has done.  There could be worse things.

I have a stack of work to do today -- Sunday -- and I'm doing that thing where you find every little excuse not to get down to it.  You know the process.  I'll start once I've emptied the dishwasher.  And then once I've made a cup of coffee.  And then once I've checked my emails.  And then my blog.  And on and on and on. 

I think I'm putting it off because it's HARD.  I didn't bring easy, just get through it stuff home this weekend.  I brought stuff home that I really have to delve into and think about and research.  And it's a lovely day out.  Perfect for taking photographs.  Or taking the dog for a walk.  I have to stop this.  Now.

I'm sorry.  I can't blog anymore.  I have work to do.

The seventh season of "American Idol" premieres tonight.  Will you be watching, or are you over it?

I am slightly ashamed to admit that I did watch it.  The first few episodes, with the really bad singers who think they're wonderful, are just too delicious to miss.  But I also did various things on my laptop at the same time -- it's not good enough to devote your whole attention to.

I had a totally crappy day yesterday.  It started out with the realization that I had forgotten to put out the garbage.  It had been almost 3 weeks since it was picked up (because of Christmas), and now it'll be another 2 weeks before it gets picked up again.  The garage is going to get a little rank by then, I fear.

Then my daughter called me to say she was feeling dreadful, had made a doctor's appointment but didn't feel well enough to drive herself.  I cancelled my lunch date, got someone to cover off a meeting for me, and went to pick her up at university and take her to the doctor's office.  Afterwards, I took her to a lab to have a bunch of diagnostic tests.  Then I took her for lunch, because it was nearly 2:00 and we hadn't eaten yet.  We had a really nice lunch, but I was still distracted and worried about her.  As I was backing out of the parking space I was in, I turned the wheel too quickly and slid very firmly against a concrete post that was lurking beside my left back door.  I pulled back the front fender and dented and scratched the driver's door.  I couldn't believe how much damage was done while driving at about 2 kilometres per hour. 

So -- I then had to call into work and tell them I wouldn't be back, while I phoned the insurance company and took the car to an autobody shop for an estimate, etc. etc. etc. 

Today, I am pleased to report, was completely uneventful.  Thank goodness!

I want a do-over -- Day 120/365

My fun day

My two weeks' vacation are over tonight, and I have to get back into the old swing of things at work first thing Monday morning.  It will seem jarring at first, but by the end of the day I'm sure I'll forget I was ever on vacation -- my job has a way of taking over like that.

In anticipation of returning to the office, I treated myself to some things this afternoon.  I bought 2 new tops for work, a new pair of sweatpants for my workout tomorrow (my current ones are literally falling apart) and a pair of jeans, and two really nice pairs of shoes.  And the really cool thing was that, other than the shoes, everything was a size smaller than I used to wear -- progress!

The shoes are an unusual thing for me -- I am missing the female "shoe gene", and generally regard shoes as a bit of an annoying necessity. My routine practice is to find one or two pairs that don't hurt my feet and don't cost too much, and wear them until they're trashed.  And then I buy one or two more, of a similar quality.  Today I went to a very nice shoe store -- the kind I generally never go to -- and got the young sales woman to find me two pairs of comfortable, yet stylish shoes.  They cost a lot more than I usually spend on shoes, but I'm determined to start to go for quality instead of value and comfort.  Here they are -- and here's hoping they're comfy AND stylish.

New shoes

What do you do for fun when you're broke? 
Submitted by Kim. 

Lots of things come to mind.  Good old television, for one.  I subscribe to lots of digital channels, so there's always something on that's entertaining.  Reading, for another.  I have a huge library of books (they're my not so secret addiction) and there's lots for me to read without leaving the house and without spending a penny.  Digital photography is another option -- the equipment is already paid for, and I can spend many a happy hour taking photographs, posting them here and on Flickr, and viewing and commenting on others' shots.

My addiction Day 50/365

I have to say I'm finding this blog site much more user friendly, and therefore more likely to result in my actually posting things more frequently.  I've given up on the idea of having to write a little essay each time I post.  Some of the blogs I enjoy reading have quite short messages, but coupled with interesting photographs or quotations.

It's a gray Saturday, and I'm trying to decide whether to make myself get out of the house for one of a number of possible reasons.  I need new sweatpants for working out -- mine are trashed -- and I could use new work shoes, so a trip to the mall would make sense.  I was also thinking of doing a photography trip of some sort, but the more I think of that the less I'm inclined to do it, because the sky is just SO gray that the lighting would be crap.  I could also take Ruby for a walk, which would be good for both of us.  At this point I'm just sitting.  I have to go back to work on Monday after two weeks off, so the idea of just sitting has great appeal.

Here's a shot I took a couple of weeks ago, but redid with the assistance of a Tiffen filters editing program that I'm trying out for 2 weeks.  I just love the subtle changes that can be accomplished through the post-production use of some beautiful filter effects.

coffee bar

I took some shots in the gym where I work out with my personal trainer today.  I belong to a new group in Flickr called "52 weeks about u", and I wanted my first week's photograph to represent something that I expect to relate significantly to the whole of 2008 for me.

My weight loss/training program is going really well.  I have lost 14 pounds in the last 8 weeks, which I think is pretty great.  I don't expect to be able to keep losing at that rate for long, but I'm encouraged by it as a great start. 

The Bike

After the workout

Show us what you're looking forward to in 2008.

I started a weight loss plan AND working with a personal training a few months ago.  I've been upping the ante on the exercise component recently, and I'm starting to see some real changes.  So in 2008 I'm looking forward to being more fit, slim and healthy!