Day 83 | Happy Holidays!

I was hoping to post this message sooner but I came down with a bad cold that turned into bronchitis and a sinus infection. Thankfully I was able to see a doctor to get on antibiotics. This is only day 2 so I have 8 1/2 days left on the meds. Unfortunately, being sick is putting a cramp in my holiday season mood.

For one reason or another I've had a difficult time getting through the holidays - maybe its because my immediate family was good at being on their best just for that day while the rest of the year I didn't feel love or support from them. Yes, I know that everyone has their own lives but who doesn't think about their siblings and parents all the time? That's how I learned not to think too much about them because I knew it would never be reciprocated.

The last few years has been a little different because my father had passed away. He usually set the tone for the holidays cooking a surf and turf meal on Christmas Eve and then my mother and I would fix a turkey dinner with all the trimmings and desserts on Christmas Day. We now go to my brother's house on Christmas morning to open gifts and have lunch. My mother and I go to an afternoon movie and then have a nice dinner out. This year we're going to see "Little Fockers" with Ben Stiller, Robert DeNiro, Barbra Streisand and Dustin Hoffman. It'll be slapstick humor that is painful for me to watch but I'll laugh and that's the important thing.

Dinner will be at Peohe's on Coronado peninsula. The restaurant faces downtown San Diego so we'll get to see the buildings all lit up. We'll most likely go to Hotel Del Coronado - hands down my favorite festive thing to do during the holiday season. The lobby is covered with decorations that include a 30 foot tree (I actually have no idea how tall it really is) and we get hot cocoa and walk around the hotel shops. It's as close to a holiday tradition as I partake in - well, that and Cantebury Gardens in Escondido with all of its themed-decorated trees.

FOOD

Being sick has really numbed my senses and its made it hard to focus on nutrition in that I've had no appetite whatsoever. I try to hydrate and I try to get fruit and vegies in each day along with some whole grains but its not much or enough. I am taking a multivitamin (vegan) to help bridge the gap.

For dinner tomorrow night I called ahead to the restaurant and asked if the chef was willing to do very low fat vegies and mashed potatoes. Between these two items and a nice, fresh salad and cucumber sushi (weird that they serve this but great for me), I'll have a fantastic meal that I'm really looking forward to.

Enjoy your holidays - I'm sure I'll post more thoughts before this year ends.