Restaurants

I am really proud of our foodservice industry! Everywhere I go lately, it seems, they DO have a healthy version of their menu. Last night we went out to Ruby Tuesday and I had the Chicken Bella ... and it was FABULOUS and under 700 calories. The only down side is that when we got home I was in PAIN. I haven't been eating out a lot- so to eat something so heavy and so much of it made me feel really bad. I had no idea that I felt like that a LOT ... because we went out a lot. So- I'm wondering if I AM going to eat out, perhaps I should do it earlier in the day- like lunch ... because you can almost always walk off that feeling.

Anyway ... not that I'm going to take up eating out all the time, but you can't avoid it ... so in my searches so far, these are the restaurants that have healthier options ... you can go on http://www.thedailyplate.com/ and enter in the restaurant name if you can't find a healthy menu online.

Some restaurants with healthy menus: Chick Fil A, Chili's, Ruby Tuesday, Olive Garden, Red Lobster, On the Border Mexican Cantina ... those are just a few!

Today's Blog Spotlight: My Aunt Robin (Robbie) who is my mother's sister

QUESTIONAIRE

Please state your FULL name and your relation to me or how I know you
Robin Faye Doran - I am your mother’s youngest sister (Yes! That is correct and I've always liked the name Faye, by the way- how did *I* end up with Elizabeth?!)

How and/or when did we meet?
On the day of your birth, I visited you in the hospital. I was also there when you left the hospital. (Very nice of you to come, thanks ... did you, like my Uncle Michael, think I looked like a Vietnamese refugee - his words, not mine)

What were your first thought upon meeting me
I remember thinking how beautiful and precious you were. What happened? Just kidding! (I'm still BOTH of those things ... )

Are you satisfied with our current relationship?
I wish we lived closer to one another, but other than that, of course. (YOU retired and you COULD have moved to Texas instead of Tennessee ... )

If no, then what I can do or what can WE do to improve it?
We already did it and I am thrilled that we did. (Me too!)

Are you happy?
Immensely! (Me too!)

7. If no, why not? Defintely NOT applicable.

8. Do you drink? No…it doesn’t like me. (Me either- but sometimes, it beckons. Did you know my father's grandmother's family was and is full of moonshine bootleggers? I suppose I come by it natural)

9. Do you feel you have a purpose? We all have a purpose; mine is to be a wonderful source of inspiration for others. Not only that, but to be loved beyond measure. Not to mention being utterly worshipped. Then there’s being so blatantly gorgeous…it’s unfair really. It is a curse I live with every single day, but one never gets used to it. However, I am resigned to my fate! (OMG, I could have totally written this same answer! You never do get used to be worshipped and having people stare and always try to be near you and be your friend ... I've learned to deal with it. It appears you have too ... At least I've never used it for financial gain- but there's still time! )

10. Where do you live? Crossville, TN (It's no Texas ... but ok)

11. Name some of your hobbies, or all of them, whatever... I like to read, do polymer clay crafting, decorate, flower arranging….stuff like that. (I like crafting, LOVE reading and I'm trying to get better with my garage saling and bargain shopping)

12. Do you think I'm funny? Usually. (Um ... USUALLY? Clearly you don't hang out with me enough. I am always ON!)

13. Do you think YOU'RE funny? Usually.

14. Any kids? None I personally gave birth to! I have 4 daughters by marriage and we are expecting our 13th grandchild in July. (I won't have any personally I give birth too either. If I could pay to have my insides taken out RIGHT NOW, I totally would- but they have some wacky law that you have to keep your insides unless you have a medical reason. Can someone please give me a medical reason?)

15. Do you like them? Yes…because they don’t live with me, nothing they do wrong can be traced back to me, we live far enough away from them that they can’t drop in, and I never have to babysit. (Ha Ha- nothing bad can be traced back to you. I like that! People do tend to blame their parents for problems and issues, huh?)

16. Do I like them? You’ve never met them. If you did, you would probably get a headache just like I do when they are ALL around at the same time. Counting significant others, that’s a LOT of people talking at once!!

17. Care to talk about how you feel about the upcoming election? The candidates? The in-fighitng? The war? I have genuine fear for this country right now due to the current candidates running for President. As a retired Federal Civil Service employee who worked as Security Officer of a large Navy facility and an American, I fully support decisions made by the President. His job sucks. It’s my duty as an American to support him. If I don’t like those decisions, then it is also my duty as an American to vote for someone who I believe will make appropriate changes. (Aw, this answer really touched me. I fully support the President too. Unless he's acting illegally or immorally- what choice do we really have? His job DOES suck!)

18. Do you think the Queen of England was rude for not responding to the invitation to our wedding? Personally, I don’t think she ever saw your invitation. Whoever works as her correspondence secretary is either rude or lazy or extremely slow. I recently watched a movie about the Queen and I now suspect she IS rude. (Yes, I saw that movie- The Queen. All she cares about is those dogs. She is also a terrible dresser. If I had all that money, you can be assured I would ALWAYS look fabulous.)

19. Are you surprised I was in my 30's when I finally got married? I sort of got used to you not being married when you were around 23. I wasn’t surprised in a bad way…I was happily surprised. (Oh if I had been married at 23, we'd have all been in trouble. Emotionally unstable is a good way to describe me and demon spawn is a good way to describe anyone I was dating between the ages of 17-28.)

20. Do you think Conrad is a lucky man? Yes. I also suspect he will be extremely tired most of the time. (Really? I'm not generally high maintenance. )

21. Chocolate or Vanilla? Chocolate! (Excellent)

22. Morning person or not? I certainly AM. Even retired, I am up before 7 AM. (That is sick)

23. Are you addicted to anything- coffee, relationships, shopping, alcohol? I do like my morning coffee. (OMG! We ARE related! I like my coffee too- usually with a nice flavored creamer)

24. Do you trust me? Sure, why not? Is there something you aren’t telling me? (Um, this was not a resounding YES answer ... we'll work on that. Unless you give me reason, I'm not planning on writing a tell all book about you- although I daresay it would be a best seller. Everything I touch turns to gold- just look at Conrad. He used to be very pasty white when I first met him. It's the glow- of love.)

25. Do YOU know your heritage? If so, what is it .... I am SOUTHERN…and from the best Southern city in the world… Charleston , SC. (AH! The most perfect answer so far! A++++)

Kah