Sometimes, things don’t work the way they normally do. Today was no exception. This happens sometimes when you have all the time in the world.

Weekends are perfect for the oddball eating. Since there is only one cat now, the step-kitty, and no offspring, there is not always a reason for getting up at a certain time. So, maybe I’m not hungry right away, especially if I’ve been lucky enough to sleep for 9 hours or more. These days, not so much, but I’m trying. Sometimes it’s lunch at 10:30 and dinner at 4, maybe a snack before bed. Sometimes I just nibble all day–nuts, berries, grapes, leftovers, hummus on a spoon, whatever.

That’s oddball eating. And I just made up that term when I started writing this.

Anyway. . .

I survived the starving blood test by packing three boiled eggs and a flask of hot coffee, just the way I like it. IKEA has a great little vacuum flask that keeps coffee hot for a long time if you fill it with hot water for a few minutes and use the little button on the top of the cap to pour the coffee into your little cup. I should use mine more often.

Since I was in a fabulous place today, Market Street in The Woodlands, I sat on a park bench and had the eggs and coffee. The weather was nice, it was just starting to warm a little, and the sun was shining. Shortly thereafter, I was no longer REALLY hungry. But I couldn’t stop there.

There is a supermarket in the same area, so I stopped in for a couple of Larabars. I love the Chocolate Chip Brownie and CC Cherry Torte, but they didn’t have any, so I went with Tropical Fruit. Two, of course, they are too good to eat just one . Had them sitting behind the wheel of the vehicle with some more of the coffee, not driving. Because traffic in Houston is beyond belief, and I did not want to sit in a parking lot for another 90 minutes, I thought out my return route. After figuring out a non-toll route, I headed home.

Because I was up so early, I was pretty tired. Despite a second cup of strong tea, I was still tired and ended up taking a two hour nap. And there was some delicious Halloween candy in my day, too.

I do have a difficult time passing up Mounds and Almond Joy. Mounds especially, since it’s  the much-ballyhooed “healthier” chocolate. It may have health benefits, but the sugar cancels it all out. Resistance is futile. . .but I’m working on it.

To start getting rid of all that, I went walking for a while. About 90 minutes, I think. Plus some pushups and ab work.

And it happened again. I’m hungry, darnit! I hate that.

I didn’t want to have a full meal, so I went after the rest of the white bean mash in the fridge. Then some black eyed peas in the pantry, since I’m out of cannellini beans again (as usual.) Gonna have some more ice water and wash up the dishes. I think I’m good.

No more Halloween candy, darnit. Make my own sweets without sugar again. Darnit. (I like Suzanne Somers’ SomerSweet, it works great.) Lay off the cakes and such, which I normally do anyway. These last couple of weeks have been exceptions.

Also, after not exercising for a couple of weeks, I’m going to get back to it. Maybe not the long walking I enjoy the most, but it must happen. I don’t feel right when I don’t, and never mind wearing a larger size.  (My fault.)

Found out today that there are two upcoming cookbook signings, and I plan to make both of them, if nothing stops me.

This Friday, Ree Drummond, The Pioneer Woman, will be in Sam’s in Pearland; I’ll bring my cookbooks to be signed, and maybe the biography. I met her husband, Marlboro Man, and their two sons in the Phoenix airport earlier this year; they were arriving, I was going back to Houston on the red-eye. I got to talk to them for a few minutes before going through TSA. I love the show, it’s like visiting your cousins once a week.

Monday, November 12, Ina Garten, The Barefoot Contessa, will be at the River Oaks Sur la Table at 12:00 pm. Yes, I’m going, if I’m not otherwise busy. I have waited years to meet Ina Garten, and I can’t wait. Her cookbooks are also fantastic, whether you’re entertaining or making a week’s worth of lunch and dinner. When I had to learn to make a Thanksgiving turkey, it was her Barefoot Contessa books that made it easy. Hint: it’s a big chicken.

Well, I’m off for the night, and plan to do another restaurant review from Delray Beach this week. Maybe two, if I remember the other one.

But oddball eating is here to stay.

Happy Dining!