MySpace Page can now be found at http://myspace.com/lishdn. Everyone has one so I guess I better get one to. Its pretty cool. I have already caught up with two people from High School. The interface is very annoying though. There is just to much going on and adds are blinking all over the place. It hurts the eyes. Although they encourage you to use HTML tags so that will help me fix it up nicely and sharpen my skills.

Visit me at http://myspace.com/lishdn

Happy Thanksgiving and a Happy 31st Birthday to me!!! Thanksgiving Day was absolutely perfect...we all had a wonderful time. Thank you Aunt Valerie and Uncle Gary for hosting the bird and thank you Mom and Tim for making it to the Bay this holiday season. My Birthday was Friday, today. I started off the day watching movies with Dan. Did a little madness Black Friday shopping. We then had an awesome Sushi dinner with Mom and Tim. We had much to be thankful for. My favorite memory was of Tim and I admiring our riches by watching our family during this season. Women in the kitchen, laughing, drinking wine and baking their buns off while the boys watched the football game. Tim and I watched in awe as we sipped our wine and felt the wealth that money could never buy. We have much to be thankful for. I love you all and wish you a season full of such riches.

Alisha and Dan, Thanksgiving Day, 2006. I love you Huggaboo!

Dad, this one is for you. Goob and I had you in mind when we took this photo, we love you!

I smell Turkey!

Brother and Sister

Mom and Tim, adorable!

Girls Kickass!!!

Super Sweet!!!

Sisters Forever!!!

So, where the hell is that Turkey?

Men, drinking the fine wine and watching the women.

Taaadddaaaa!!!! Bravo, Encore, bravo!!!!!

Women in the kitchen, mom baking up cornbread stuffing, Grandma's recipe.

A beautiful setting.

And then they Feast!

Happy Thanksgiving my fellow bloggers and bloggets! What are you Thankful for? I'm thankful I have Dan and my puppy to love me after a long day. I'm thankful to be back in California and to be with family that I have not seen in some time. I'm thankful to be home.

2nd week of my WW weigh sucked!!! I gained two of the three pounds I just lost. I know, I sound obsessive but its like working hard all week and not making a penny. I know it was that damn Lamb Vindaloo and Nan, but I love Indian cuisine!!!! Im blogging points values for Turkey dinner so I have a quick way of knowing what I have eaten and what it has added up to. In this program, its better to know how many points something is worth before you eat it...some food just isnt worth the points value.

Turkey Dinner points value:

1 slice, 2 oz., of white or dark meat Turkey (no skin)= 2 pts
1/2 cup of stuffing = 4 pts
1/2 mashed potatos = 2 pt
1/4 cup of Turkey Gravy = 1 pt
1/4 cup of Cranberry sauce = 2 pts
1 Dinner roll = 2 pts
Butter, 1 tsp = 1 pt
1/4 cup of Spinach Dip = 5 pts
Cheese, 1" cube = 2 pts
Salami/Summer Sausage, 1 oz. = 3 pts
Crackers, 1 oz. = 3 pts.
Pumpkin Pie, 1 slice = 7 pts
Peach Cobbler, 1 slice = 9 pts
Wine, 8 oz = 2 pts
Beer, 1 can or bottle = 3 pts

Well, by looking at these numbers, I will be going over my points value that day. Im going to have to jog early on Thursday so I can have an extra piece of moms lemon dessert!

This evening, I polished off a book called The Supreme Adventure, an experience of Siddha Yoga by Peter Hayes. The author speaks of how he attained spiritual enlightment through the study of Eastern philosophy and is sharing his journey and experiences with meditation, mantras, the self, mind and power.

I have read many of these types of books and this one was one of the most boring books I have ever sat down with. The book was published in 1988, I suppose it would have been much more groovy back then. Time for a trip to Barnes and Noble! I found this book when Dan and I moved, Im pretty sure it was one he picked up during his travels.

Peace Out!

Sleepless in the Bay!!!

I'm so tired, we are sleepless in the Bay. It feels as though we have not had a descent rest since we moved here. Our first month in Oakley was bliss, but for various reasons, we couldnt seem to sleep like we had in the past. We were certain that once we got back into our own home with our bed and blankets we would sleep till noon. From the first day we moved to Dublin, we have been dealing with apartment construction, at 8:00 a.m. sharp. For most of you, these hours our perfect. For those of us without a job, that is torture...LOL. My evenings are often late. I kickbox till 8:00 p.m. and find myself wide awake for several hours after. The morning is when I rest but not since I moved back to the Bay. And not to mention, the banging, pounding, sawing and hammering occurs for a solid 8 hours. It is loud, abnoxious and sometimes it's down right frightening. Anyways, the whole point to this burp of a blog is to share the pictures below...this is my patio, it is under construction, at 8:00 a.m. sharp.

Maybe I shouldn't complain about the noise, the neighbor's above me lost their balcony.

Photo's above are from yesterday, picture below was photographed today.

How much is that Honey in the Window, arrrfff arrrfff, the one with the wagly tail, arrrff, arrfff. How much is that Honey in the Window, arrrfff arrrfff? I sure hope that Honey's for sale.

Dan's Website is back up, visit www.danmeloy.com. Currently under construction, please stop by anytime for future updates. We have a lot to do to fix up the site, it needs a more professional appearance with real working examples in PHP, ASP.net and ColdFusion.

First WW "Weigh In"

My first Weigh in was Monday, November 13th. I lost 3 lbs. This may not seem like much but to a WW member, its what makes it a great Day! Next week will be difficult but I plan to get in some extra working out to make up for any yummy treats I indulge in.

Lemon Lush

The Lemon Lush recipe from my mom has finally hit my blog! Yummy, can I get an Amen my brothers and sisters? This is some delicious Lush and is sure to be a hit all year round. I found out that this recipe was handed down from my Grandma Marge, my dads mom, to my mom and now onto me. This bit of news just adds a little something extra to the recipe.

Enjoy!

Lemon Lush
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts
1 cube butter
butter at room temp and mix dry ingredients and press in bottom of 13x9 pan
cook at 325 for about 20 minutes
let cool then take

2 pkg cream cheese
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 cup cool whip and mix together spread over cooled crust
refrigerate for at least 2 hours
2 small pkg instant lemon pudding mix to pie directions on box
add 2 tsp lemon juice
spread over cream cheese layer of pie
just before serving spread cool whip over the top and add diced nuts if
desired

Weight Watchers Member!!!!

I have finally joined Weight Watchers! My first day was Monday, November 6th, 2006. I started the Flex Points program in a generic manner almost a year ago. Due to two very cool Oregonians, Martha and Katie, I got a hold of a points counter and daily journals to jot down my points, food, weight, activity, etc. I lost a total of 40 lbs in the past year following the plan to the best of my ability without truly being a WW member.

My birthday is this month, November 24th, the busiest shopping day of the year. I am very excited about that! As a gift to myself, I started the e-tools online Weight Watchers program. All food and activity points are calculated for you and the data is available for future readings in my online plan. I have access to an overwhelming amount of message boards for us gals and guys to discuss our weight issues and pretty much anything else that we want. We swap ideas, nutritious recipes and how to eat at restaraunts in a healthy way that is condusive to our personal goals. We also talk politics, personal interest and share stories with eachother.

This coming Monday is my first Weigh In (WI). Im down a couple of pounds already this week and yes, I celebrate each pound loss with a Happy Dance.
Wish me luck and love in the journey as it will need to consume me. I have began to realize, this is no longer about fitting into a smaller size and looking fabulous in a tight pair of jeans, this is about staying alive and being as healthy as I possibly can.

In addition to WW, I have recently started kickboxing classes, 3 days a week. I am learning some Martial Art techniques as well from a Sensei, Japanese Instructor. And with the sun always blazing in California, Honey and I go for daily walks that sometimes turn into a jogging affair. Along with my sushi addiction, I am discovering a whole new me in the Bay.

See below for some before pictures and watch me melt right before your very eyes.

40 lbs gone!!!!
September of 2006



30 lbs gone!!!!
April of 2006

Thanksgiving Holiday ideas:

From my friend Tori in Redding, CA.

Hi honey, You know it is hard sometimes to think outside the box but try to think of great fun stuff like pumpkin creme brulee or pumpkin fudge cheesecake how about spaghetti squash or garlic herb potatoes. I like brown sugar carrots instead of sweet potatoes and sausage stuffing with lots of fresh herbs. Try a pumpkin soup or corn bread instead of rolls.If you want appetizers try a warm artichoke dip or stuffed mushrooms, maybe grilled veggies in a puff pastry. Marinated veggies are nice like Cabernet asparagus.


From my friend Julie in Oregon.

Visit http://kraftfoods.com/ for all your Holiday recipes

From my friend Bobbe' in Willows, CA, one of her favorites.

NADINE'S STRING BEAN CASSEROLE

2 cans string beans, drained 1 can Campbells cream of mushroom soup or cream of chicken or cream of celery 1 can french fried onions 1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce Dash salt and pepper In saucepan place string beans, mix with soup, Worcestershire sauce, salt and pepper. Heat until bubbly. In a casserole place half bean mixture with layer of french fried onions. Save a small amount. Heat in 350 degrees for 25 minutes covered. Remove cover and sprinkle remainder of french fried onions on top bake in oven and brown for 5 minutes.

Tis' the season to start baking our buns off!!! Share your recipes with me and anyone else who checks out this blog. As soon as I find some good ones, I will post them on the blog. If you want, you can email me your recipe at lishdn@hotmail.com and I will post them on the blog with your permission. If you have any low-cal or sugar free recipes, feel free to share those as well.

Note to Mom! Please post your lemon meringue pie recipe once you get your blogspot up and running or email it to me! Its a must have recipe!!!!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday season!!!

Girls best friend...I love my sweet Honey!!!!

Family visits the new digs!! Uncle Gary and Timothy come for a quick visit. Thanks for stopping by!!!!

I'm truly a Californian again!

10 Things I love about being in the Bay Area, California:

1. Sunshine!!
2. Swimming pools, everyone has one.
3. Average speed limit on any freeway is 70 mph, that's frickin awesome!
4. I can buy liquor at a grocery store.
5. Diversity
6. The Philladelphia CheeseSteak Shop.
7. Technology super geeks everywhere.
8. San Jose Sharks, 49er's, Raiders and the Oakland A's, all in our backyard!!!
9. Opportunity.
10. Knowing that even if I have a bad day, its o.k. because is sunny outside!!!!

The view off of my patio is great. And Honey has plenty of room to run and play and pooh!

Dan, Honey and I are new residents in Dublin, California. Dublin is a very cute town smack in the middle of the two busiest freeways in the Bay Area which is great for two young adults looking to get their career on! Dublin is right next to Pleasanton which is where Dan was raised from the 6th grade till he graduated High School. We pass his old stomping grounds everyday. We live in a complex called the Springs which is right on top of a historical site. In 1822, a Mexican Soldier, Jose Maria Amador, began to build the first community in Dublin, also known as the Tri-Valley area. Our physical complex is about 50 feet from where he built his home and raised his family. I believe the swimming pool and hot tub sit where his home sits, so I must be living where the chickens were raised...LOL. Jose Amador has many places named after him, including, Amador High School which is where Dan graduated. Pleasanton is also the sister city of Tulancingo, Mexico. In High School, Dan was sent to Tulancingo, Mexico as a foreign exchange student and represntative of it's sister city, Pleasanton to speak with the Spanish speaking Kiwanis and Key club members in Mexico. I dont have any photos of this enriched history of Dublin, but I thought I would share some photos of our new home. We like it here. It is smaller than our home in Aloha, Oregon, but we are very grateful we have less yard work to do.

Summer fun in Genoa, Nevada with Cousin Aaron. Dan, Honey and I spent a week at cousin Aaron's house. We took a day trip to Lake Tahoe and visited the local setting of Genoa. Genoa is a very cute little town with loads of history. Quaint coffee shops and local stores, along with a visit to the gravesite of Snowshoe Thompson (successful mail carrier who was never paid), Tahoe Ridge winery and the first bar in Nevada. We also took a tour of the Mormon station where many Mormons settled in 1851 before Bringham Young requested all Mormons return to Salt Lake City, Utah in 1857. One of the most unique things to me in Genoa was that the deer are as common around the neighborhood as the residents.

Lake Tahoe is absolutely beautiful as always!

The Pittsburgh, California Seafood Fesitval was in late August. It was one of the last events Dan and I attended before we moved to Oregon in 2001. So upon our return to California in 2006, we had to re-visit the fun. The Seafood Festival is full of crazy seafood and southern dishes like Gumbo, crawdads and shrimp dishes. Aunt Val joined us in the fun!

Ya drishti, Sa srishti meaning, the world is as you see it.