In my last post, I told you guys I was working on setting up a new site. I’m about halfway done, and you can actually stalk my progress at thedeglutenizer.com. I think I finally found the WordPress theme I like, and I’ve started transferring old post content there. I’m hoping to have the site completed in another week or so, and am working fervently on finishing a few final details (prettying up the contact form, setting up a navigable archive page, creating a mailing list, etc.). I’m hoping it’ll be a lot easier for my regular readers to discover new content on my lovely new site, and for new readers to find me when they look up “gluten free chocolate chip cookie recipe” on Google.
Christmas? Well the family all met up with my brother in Orlando since his work schedule wouldn’t let him come visit us. Finding gluten-free food wasn’t too hard. He actually served us at work Christmas eve at Bosphorous in Winter Park. Everything that contained gluten was served on separate dishes, they brought extra utensils for serving so my mom and aunt wouldn’t cross-contaminate, and the food was absolutely fantastic. We went to a Japanese buffet Christmas Day, and I gorged myself on crab legs. On the way out of town, we found a Longhorn Steakhouse, which has a great gluten-free menu, and I’ve never had a bad meal at any Longhorn location.
We also visited an Applebee’s our first night, and over half their gluten-free menu is wrong, so I ended up getting a grilled chicken breast seasoned only with salt and pepper with broccoli and mashed potatoes. Oh, and the mashed potatoes tasted like wallpaper paste. My family enjoyed their meals, though, as well as all the appetizers, especially the wonton tacos. As for whomever in corporate was responsible for organizing the gluten-free menu for your brand, I suggest you send them to Longhorn and tell them to order from the gluten-free menu there to see how it’s done. Seriously, Applebee’s, if you aren’t going to try, then just admit you aren’t a gluten-friendly establishment and move on.
As for the new year, I do have a few resolutions:
- Burn fat, build muscle. So yesterday was the second of two rather brisk days. I remembered to pull my winter clothes out of the garage that morning, and as I tried on items I haven’t worn in over a year…I felt like a can of biscuits. I cancelled my membership at Planet Fitness over a year ago (I’m centrally located between the three local branches, and they’re each about 7.5 miles away, which is too far the way our roads are laid out). I haven’t been to any martial arts classes in even longer. So I’ve basically been inactive for over a year, and I’m about to have to invest in a new wardrobe, except I’m too short to buy any larger clothes. So instead I’ve found another gym that’s affordable enough and closer to home, with really good operating hours. I go for my initial personal trainer meeting this weekend where they’ll measure my fat/muscle ratio and we’ll discuss nutrition and safe training goals. I’m not 100% that I’ll sign up there, but so far it looks like my best option. I’m hoping to lose about 15lb. of fat and build 3-5lb. of muscle, and to do both in the right places…and to stop getting winded climbing a flight of stairs.
- Keep up with my garden. I’m currently working to catch up on weeding and basic maintenance. It’s kind of overgrown from where I just haven’t had the opportunity to work on it, and catching up is 10x harder than maintaining. Also, caterpillars can all go die a fiery death if they don’t stay away from my tomatoes.
- Get my blog on page 1 of Google for “gluten free blog.” Watch out, Gluten Free on a Shoestring and Gluten Dude! I’m coming for you!
- Come up with even more gluten-free recipes that are delicious (and maybe a few that are also healthy). No, I will never turn this into a health blog. There’s more than enough fruity-tooty, kale-filled, gluten-free health blogs out there. But I will occasionally post a recipe that’s a little healthier than my usual recipes because sometimes stuff that’s good for you can taste good, too. And then there’s other times when you need to add Coca-Cola to a chocolate cake.
- Manage time better. I have a lot going on. Most of us do. Many of the things we do would be a lot easier if we could do them in a timely fashion. At least, that’s the case in my situation. So I’m going to make all the lists and cross all the things off the lists and everything will be lists.
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