The Flip-side of Summer on Narragansett Bay

As beautiful and inviting as summer can be on
Narragansett Bay, the late fall/winter/early spring can be dreary. For three days now, a late-season hurricane, stalled off the coast by high pressure to the north, has settled grayness, wind and rain on us. On the good side, the temperature is moderate and the wind is exciting.

Paul and Patty

I'd forgotten about my blog (what with facebook and twitter), until yesterday when brother Paul and sister-in-law Patty said they used to enjoy it. So, to honor them, here are photos of the sailing afternoon with them (also yesterday) on their boat.

Strange thing: Dan and I joined Facebook a couple of days ago. Daughter Katy and various nieces befriended us the first day. Next day, Joanna and Rob joined in along with more nieces and nephews. At first it was exciting but now I think we might cramp the young folks easy exchanges with each other. Am thinking of un-doing the membership. Maybe better to blog when the inspiration hits. So, this is what I posted on Facebook today: Michol is drooping; the moon woke her up. And I added this photo I took a while ago.

 Yesterday the Buddhamobile got it's first taste of reality: Dan backed into it with his car on his way to play golf. I didn't get terribly upset. I could have done it myself.

                                                      

                                                                         Lucy  4/08.

May 4, '07

5 am:

On the far shore

Across the blue-gray bay,

Sill twinkling with lights, Middletown wakes.

To the north,

Tucked in a hill above the shore,

My parents sleep

At St. Columba's, side by side.

Useful Dieting Information

In the April '07 issue of EatingWell magazine that Mary gave us for a gift, I found a dieting plan with some useful information: one pound of fat contains about 3,500 calories. From this, it follows that one can lose a pound a week by cutting 500 calories a day from one's current diet. If one wants to lose more slowly, say a pound every two weeks, one can cut 250 calories a day.
A person starts by estimating how many calories it takes to maintain current weight. The formula for that is: current weight in pounds, times 12. With that information one can figure how long it will take to get to a desired weight.
A caveat: Should not eat fewer than 1,200 calories daily. To eat fewer is to risk not getting enough nourishment.

There is work involved: need to keep a food journal. That means you will have to buy a small book with calorie information, fat content, etc. in foods and portion sizes. Along with that you need a notebook to record what you eat. You record also the calories you expend through exercise. Add the calories taken in and subtract the calories expended and you will have a good idea of your progress.
You will need to keep (at least) a tablespoon and half-cup measures handy to gauge amounts you are eating. Also check food boxes for calorie info.
I am thinking of getting a digital food scale to be more accurate.

What caught my attention was the number of calories in a pound of fat (3,500). You can choose to use that information or not; but, once you know it, "It's out there," as Meg Ryan said in "Harry Met Sally".