Sandy701's Journal, 10 May 2011

I think it's time to bring out the broth again. Temperatures are increasing and the summer-like humidity seems like it's moving in, as well. I've been slightly light-headed the last few days and so I think it's time to put broth back somewhere in my summertime meals.

I got the doggies out walking with me just before the low clouds got burned off, so it was "just" 74 degrees and probably nearly the same relative humidity when we went out before 9 AM. My poor Lab (with her heart murmur) still got pretty warm fairly quickly, so the dogs only went 2.3 miles and then I went out and added some more to go the full 3.3 miles.

Our heat pump for a back part of the house went out Sunday night but I had an excellent encounter with the repair contractor yesterday. Actually, we've used them before and they've been excellent every time...fast response, good work, and fair prices. If all contractors were like this, I'd be a happy camper.

Unfortunately, our pool contractor is still MIA for the work that needs to be done on some pool equipment, so I called another one yesterday. It had been over 7 weeks since the first one had been out here to look at the problem and no contact since. The guy who had come out seemed less than enthused about part of the project and had a problem diagnosing the problem with the equipment. In fact, he had to call his boss and neither could diagnose the problem. They thought we might need an entirely new piece of equipment (think a couple thousand $$). I had to bring out the owner's manual to justify what I had told them all along - that we only needed a new temperature sensor - and, voila!, he put a thingy on it and confirmed that's exactly what we need!!! I believe he's not come back because replacing the part is no big deal but the other part of the project just isn't what he wants to do.

This 2nd contractor had an answering machine but it's now been over 24 hours with no response, so I'm about ready to move on to whoever will be contractor #3. WE NEED THIS EQUIPMENT FIXED! I understand small operations may have someone tied up at a job site for the better part of the day, especially when this is pool season and the weather's fantastic. But I also think that SOMEONE from that business ought to have the responsibility for returning phone calls within a day's time. Is that too much to ask?

I'm about ready to just go right on down the phone book listings, taking the first one who might actually answer the phone. I've given up on that other part of the project, as DH has said we could both work on it and probably do an OK job of it. Not sure I agree with that because of all the work he's still doing on his car, but, for now, I can put that on the back burner.

I'm such a cynic...I think that a number of these companies keep advertising, looking for the big projects and just ignore all the small jobs, unless they get to a point where they can't find anything else to do. And then, if they find it's not really something they can make a good profit on, or it's too small a job, or whatever, they'll bid it extra high so the homeowner looks elsewhere OR they'll make a handsome profit on that job!

OK, rant done. This hasn't been food-related, but it's what I'm dealing with for today.

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1485 kcal

Fat: 105.53g | Prot: 101.79g | Carb: 37.09g.   Breakfast: Brown Sugar & Honey Breakfast Sausage, Kraft/Borden/Cooper shredded colby/Mexican cheese, Pieces & Stems Mushrooms, scrambled eggs. Lunch: butter, Planters recipe ready pecans, Body Fortress Super Advanced Vanilla whey protein, Truvia packets, Bob's Red Mill almond meal flour, baking powder, cinnamon, butter, Fage Greek yogurt, egg. Dinner: shredded cheese, turkey bacon, cauliflower, NY strip steak. Snacks/Other: Jello Mousse Temptations - Dark Chocolate Indulgence, Endulge Peanut Caramel Cluster Bar, String Cheese Mozzarella Cheese Snacks. more...

2064 kcal

Activities & Exercise: Sleeping - 8 hours, Walking (exercise) - 3.5/mph - 36 minutes, Walking (moderate) - 3/mph - 24 minutes, Resting - 15 hours. more...