New year, new Tootsie Rolls...

So we’re back in Austin (well, some of us – Rick is still in Chicago… and Eric is still in Chicago, too… but Eric is always in Chicago, so he doesn’t really count). We had a great time and really enjoyed walking blocks and blocks in the freezing cold weather – seriously, it was a rather refreshing change from the 60- and 70-degree weather we’re used to. And we had the good fortune of having some calm winds most of the time we were there, which made the cold much easier to bear. The only day it was really COLD in the city was Saturday, when the wind picked up. That also happened to be the day we decided to try a new restaurant that was a dozen or so blocks from the hotel, and eschewed the idea of a taxi. About halfway there, as the wind whipped around our faces and I could no longer tell if my nose was actually still on my face, we began to ask each other whose idea it was to walk. (I think we finally decided to blame dad… :))

But the cold (and a few Christmas gift cards) gave me an excuse to buy some new cold weather wear. (Incidentally, I really don’t highly recommend shopping on Michigan Avenue on a Saturday afternoon shortly after the holiday season. But I’ve never been a fan of crushing throngs of people. If you happen to be a fan of crushing throngs of people, go for it…) I got a new scarf, gloves and a hat that were all much warmer than the previous scarves, gloves and hats I’d been wearing. Always great to have a legitimate excuse to go shopping…

Well, now that the holidays are over, it’s time to get back on track with eating well and exercising on a regular basis. I always let things slide during the holiday season – there’s always so much to do, and everywhere you look some kind of horrible (but delicious) treat is staring back, daring you not to eat it. The peppermint mochas at Starbucks alone must’ve added a couple thousand calories a week to my usual intake. So now that they’ve been removed from the menu, I’ll no longer have that temptation staring me in the face every time I walk into a Starbucks. Back to plain old cappuccinos. But off course no resolve to eat better comes without a challenge or two – no sooner did I start writing this post than Rick called to tell me about the meeting he had with the Tootsie Roll corporation this morning. And those Tootsie Roll employees are very generous people – they gave Rick all kinds of free candy. So now he’ll be bringing home who-knows-how-many Tootsie Roll products (he described it as something like, “this must be every kind of candy they make”). And I have to be sure to ration said candy in a reasonable way, so I’m not ODing on sugar and calories…

But the pedometer is back on (over 5000 steps so far today) and I went grocery shopping last night and bought all kinds of healthy food, so hopefully I’ll be back on track in no time. (And a little Tootsie Roll now and then never hurt anyone… :))

A few pics from Chicago:

Kiko seems very happy at Eric's place...


Eric's new carpet... pretty nice, right? (I helped pick it out... :))


Me and Rick at the Argo Tea Shop


This is like the best picture anyone has ever taken of me...


Me and... uh... Pancho Villa?