Day 17: Rest and Restoration

OakMonster.com - Braised Chicken and Baby Artichokes

5 Thoughts For those of you who are new to this blog, and to my life. Here’s a little background about my post-stress decompression. After a period of high stress, once everything is done, like this past week, my body gives up. It crashes into a heap of low fever, utter exhaustion, and major case of the munchies. Blog. Eat. TV. “Are you the Keymaster?” Nap. Today’s Photo As tired as I was, cooking does make me happy. So I made the braised chicken recipe I tested for work on Day 1 of this challenge. Delicious! Breakfast English Breakfast tea....
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Day 16: Halfway There

OakMonster.com - Brandon's x-ray

5 Thoughts It’s the halfway point, you guys! We’re almost through with the challenge. Are you all hanging in there with me? Good. My day of appointments was planned a week ago but it worked out beautifully after the two week of craziness I just had. I spent half a day running errands and the other half working from home. Working from home is super productive and kind of therapeutic after the past two days…except when it’s a million degree in my home office. But I survived. And then we some news that pretty much trumped any other thought I...
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Day 15: Ready for My Close Up

OakMonster.com Rambutans

5 Thoughts Tomorrow is a less busy day. Tomorrow you’re working from home. Tomorrow is Friday. You can survive this. You can survive this. I sat at the computer for only about 3 hours total and spent the rest of the time in the test kitchen. Surprised I actually ate all seven meals! I should probably log all of these running up and down the stairs as calorie deficit. LOTS of running up and downstairs today. Roasted fennel smells like roasted chicken. It’s really weird. I’ve always cooked fennel with something else so I never notice that before! After a...
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Day 14: Madness…Period

5 Thoughts I love my job. Shoot me now. I love my job. Oh god oh god please make it stop. I love my job. Extra Thought I have a new found respect for schedulers or anyone who have to proverbially herd cats. I had to arrange a schedule for 2 people AND meet a deadline and I can’t even do it. My colleagues, on the other hand, had to schedule 3 days of meetings with a dozen people, and they worked it all out. Kudos, man. Kudos. Today’s Photo Nothing. I don’t even have time to think about that....
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Day 13: Meatless Madness

OakMonster.com - Bacon Fries

5 Thoughts I really must remember to make some eggs for my Meatless Tuesday. I was going mad without the protein. Hungry OakMonster means a cranky OakMonster. It’s been a rough day at work I have to say. Hungry OakMonster also means I usually end up making horrible food choices, either too much fried things or too much dairy. Today it was fried things. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I miss riding my bike. But there is NO WAY I’d ride this week in this weather. Holy hell, it’s way too hot, windy, AND dry for that! But more...
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Day 12: Carbs Are Friends

OakMonster.com - Mycroft and Sherlock, my guardian unicorns

5 Thoughts God I’m tired. A horrible allergies that started up right before bed demanded Nyquil. My nose seems to know when the Santa Ana wind is coming. I think Nyquil + all the booze I had at the Faire might have made my sleep all kinds of wonky, that’s why I’m so tired after 9 hours of sleep. Quantity is so not quantity this night. My body demands that I have carbs. I crave carbs. All kinds of carbs. Must have carbs. The Santa Ana wind is blowing again, interfering with my bike commute plan and hurting my sinus....
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