I have OCD
Thanks to our crappy health insurance and astronomical co-pays I usually only visit a doctor if I feel like death is knocking on my door. Instead, I prefer to take the cheaper route of self-diagnosing using Google. For example, I had a horrible stomach ache a while ago (what else is new, right?) and I couldn’t think of anything I’d eaten that was unusual, except for some tofu. So I Googled, “Does tofu cause stomach aches?” And naturally I found about a million people who confirmed that they too get sick from tofu! A few days later I tested myself by eating another piece of tofu, and guess what? I had another horrible stomach ache. So I stopped eating soy altogether. That was about 2 years ago and I haven’t touched it (knowingly) since. I saved a bunch of money in co-pays, blood tests, and other non-covered insurance charges and was a happy camper. Me and Google are BFFs.
In addition to medical advice I defer to Google for reassurance on just about everything else. A few weeks ago I Googled “Do other people check the stove 100 times to make sure it is off?” Yes, I really did. And my BFF did not fail me. According to this article on ScienceDirect.com other people feel the compulsion to check the stove, locks, the oven, etc. numerous times because they can’t remember if they turned it off. The article confirmed that I not only have OCD but ERS too:
“Excessive reassurance-seeking (ERS) is a common problem among both obsessive-compulsive and depressed populations.”
Wonderful. I figured okay, I’ll just add ERS to the lengthy list of things that are wrong with me and one of these days my long list will justify the cost of therapy. (Please make me feel better and tell me you double/triple check things before you leave the house?)
So this past Saturday my ERS, OCD, and I were walking through the kitchen, doing my usual run-through before I left for lunch in Pasadena. Mentally I was checking things off: Oven? Off. Toaster? Off. Dishwasher? Off. Sliding door? Locked. Stove? I mentally counted off the five burners: off, off, off, off, on???
And I realized that Ali had left the stove on! I nearly had a heart attack imaging what could have happened had I not checked. I tried to stay calm. I told him that he’d left the stove on for an indeterminate amount of time. I said, thank God I have ERS otherwise who knows if you would have burned our house down! I asked him, what were you thinking??
Ali’s response? “Oh. Guess I forgot to turn it off.”
I’m not sure what I was expecting him to say but that definitely wasn’t it. And now I’m not sure what worries me more – the fact that Ali left the stove on in the first place? Or his indifference at leaving the stove on.
All I know is that my ERS is going to be working overtime from now on!
No Cheesecake at Cheesecake Factory
I woke up this morning at the crack of dawn. Literally. I have no idea why I was up so early on a Sunday but I figured I might as well head to the gym to be productive. I love being in the gym when it’s empty! So you can imagine my shock and irritation that there was already someone there and he had the TV blaring! I see this man often and I just want to beg him to buy some earphones already. But he’d probably report me to the Board for being rude or something and I’d get fined. My building hands out fines like they are going out of style. Ridiculous.
After the gym I made breakfast for Maya, took a shower, read her several books, did a load of laundry, cleaned the kitchen, dried my hair (an interminable process), and finally ate breakfast. Meanwhile, Ali took a shower and got dressed. And yes, that’s it.
Instead of getting snippy with each other we decided to go out to lunch with my parents. Since restaurant options near their house are pretty limited we decided to hit Cheesecake Factory in Redondo Beach. Despite the fact that the restaurant serves gargantuan portions and basically is a food factory, I still love it. The Redondo location is particularly beautiful because it is right on the Redondo harbor and our table had views of the water and the stunning yachts.
My supportive husband ordered bread for the table. I almost caved and had a piece slathered with butter. But somehow I managed to hold it together.
It helped that Maya decided she needed me to take her potty. Who knew that Maya’s frequent potty breaks could serve as a mechanism for carb control?
She dug right into her pasta when we returned:
bowtie pasta with butter and cheese
Maya loves her carbs. So do I. But I was a good girl and had some protein instead (I didn’t eat much of the rice or any of the sauce):
simply grilled salmon with steamed asparagus and rice
One of these days I am going to be completely salmoned-out. But at least I didn’t order eggs.
Ali took care of that instead:
scrambled eggs with asparagus, tomatoes and avocado
My mom had the French Country Salad:
mixed greens, grilled asparagus, fresh beets, goat cheese, candied pecans and vinaigrette.
She claims that she is the only person in our family who has no eating issues. She’s probably right.
I thought she looked particularly nice today:
As did my dad:
He decided not to order anything except a cappuccino he had serious issues with. That poor cappuccino went back and forth at least three times. And he still pronounced it a disaster.
I am excited that my dad is kicking off The Fat Flush Plan tomorrow. I know that he is going to stick with it!! (I know that he reads this, hence the cheerleading).
I was feeling particularly generous and ordered Maya an ice cream sundae as a surprise:
I got a spoon of chocolate sauce and a hug in return. I consider that a fair trade.
I also got a “You are the best Mama in the whole word.” Not sure if I believe her but it’s nice to pretend she means it anyway.
I had my usual decaf and Ali had a latte cappuccino. No lattes around here! Real men drink cappuccinos. Apparently they also wear Hello Kitty band aids. Nothing more manly than Hello Kitty band aids.
Afterwards we walked around the harbor for a bit and fed the ducks.
And now we are finally home. Maya says she feels sick…I was hopeful that we could get through the weekend without any vomit but it’s looking a lot less likely now.
Wish me luck.
Lost in Pasadena
If there was ever such a contest, I would probably win the award for the person with the worse sense of direction. Am I the only person who can’t read a map? I usually have to repeat Never Eat Shredded Wheat a few times before I can figure out which way to go. And when I finally figure out which way to go? It usually ends up being the wrong way.
Back when I lived at home my lack of direction would drive my dad crazy. He’d tell me how to get somewhere and say something like, “Exit the freeway and go North.” Of course I’d ask, “Is North left or right?” And he would literally go berserk! Finally, he put a Thomas Guide in my car and called it a day. I never opened it. Because I can’t read a map!!
Today my friends and I met for lunch in Pasadena. Naturally we got lost! So despite leaving my place at 12:45 we didn’t get to the restaurant until 2pm. Getting lost on my own is one thing but even sadder is when I get lost with three other people in a car armed with a GPS and two iPhones giving us directions. I think I am hopeless.
Luckily lunch was worth the 20 minute detour. A total of five of us met at The Raymond Restaurant. The restaurant used to be part of a hotel which, if I understand correctly, shut down during the Great Depression. The caretaker’s house was later turned into the very cute restaurant where we ate today. Our table was outside on the patio:
The tables were beautifully decorated with flowers and silver salt and pepper shakers, sugar bowls, etc. Very old school and charming.
By the time we ordered it was about 2:30 and I wanted to order one of everything. I was starving!
My friends ordered a couple of scones to start, which I obviously had to forgo.
baked daily and served with strawberry jam and clotted cream
Am I selfish if I admit that I wasn’t disappointed when I heard the scones weren’t very good?
The birthday girl ordered the Thai Steak salad:
I couldn’t find a description on The Raymond’s website but I think it had mango, peanuts, steak, and veggies. It looked delicious.
Another friend had the Ahi Tuna Salad:
Again, no description on the restaurant’s website but the plate seems pretty self-explanatory. I loved the unique presentation.
Two other entrees included Eggs Benedict on Avocado and a Veggie Omelette:
I had the Salmon Salad:
organic mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, red onions, kalamata olives, and feta cheese in a lemon dill vinaigrette
And a few of the Sweet Potato Fries that I ordered for the table:
These fries were seriously the star of lunch! I don’t think I’ve had fries in about 5 years…but these were definitely worth the wait.
The restaurant was nice enough to bring out a dessert for the Birthday Girl:
chocolate brownie, vanilla ice cream, bananas, chocolate fudge and a cherry
I had a bite of the chocolate fudge and then reverted to my usual decaf coffee:
Lunch was great! I highly recommend this restaurant for it’s good food, friendly service, and classy decor. Definitely check out The Raymond if you are ever in the area.
Just be sure not to ask me for directions.
While I'm not going to win Mother/Wife of the Year Award anytime soon, I haven't killed anyone yet or shot myself in the head. And that, my friends, is how I calculate success these days. 
FANCY THAT FANCY THIS 
