So long to summer...

(Start humming the theme from "Welcome Back, Kotter." But don't call me Dr. CAA-tear. Only Brian Grooms can get away with that.)

Yes, friends, for me and my Randy, for my BGFF Kate, for a lot of others of you out there, it's that time of year again...the students are on their way back. We start classes Wednesday and have been back since last Thursday. Randy headed south (just in time for the hurricane, no less) Saturday, leaving me for his fall semester start next week.

Fall semester's here. Let the Week of Welcome BEGIN!

Yeah, right. Whatever.

While I am excited about all the work I did this summer to prepare for my fall classes, and I thrilled about those classes in general, I seriously needed a little more summer. What I needed, I realize now, was a week alone in my own house, with time to clean the closets and the toilets. You know what I mean?

Fall semester finds both Randy and me rededicated to our respective diets. In spite of my popcorn and GF cupcakes this summer, I did manage to lose 14 pounds since we got back from Portugal in May. I seriously hope to lose 15 more pounds by Thanksgiving. Then I'll have 20 more to go. Or something like that.

I wish you could tell. My buddy/colleague at work, Angela, told me she could tell, but frankly, the bloating from the gastroparesis (unrelated to CD/GF) has me constantly looking like I'm six months preggo (I'm not). And when I've had GF baked goods (like the melba toast I had this weekend, or the GF pizza I was served for lunch) it can get pretty bad.

I also find I'm getting glutened-like symptoms a lot lately. Of course, the fact that I ate half a flour tortilla (a small one) thinking and not noticing it was the corn tortilla I ordered, well, that was DREADFUL. I was sick for two days.

No, for me, it's time to start packing my lunch again. Kind bars and hummus, here i come.

My sweet Randy...honey, I know you're reading out there...is on a super mega diet, and he seriously KICKS MY GF BUTT when it comes to willpower. With his permission on Thursday, I'll tell you how much he's lost, but he is doing GREAT. I better catch up, or he's going to trade me in for two skinny 25 and a half year olds...

But I digress. BTW, I was sad Estelle Getty died this summer. And George Carlin. My law class will never be the same...

Now that fall is here, one of the things I have in the yard are fresh pears. These are what we call in Georgia hard pears, but they're delicious. You just have to peel them to eat them. When I checked the tree last week, the deer and other critters had cleaned off the bottom branches which had maybe four dozen pears on them. I reached up high and picked three last week, and they were feeling pretty ripe. I hope to pick a dozen this weekend and make some low-sugar pear preserves. It's one of my favorite thing. I WILL report back.

I wanted to share with you a little salad I whipped up for dinner tonight. It was delicious.

Fresh Pear Salad

Two ripe but FIRM pears, peeled, cored, and chopped.
1/4 cup slivered almonds, toasted (I get these at Trader Joe's)
1/4 cup Stilton or GF Blue Cheese (or GF Feta or Goat Cheese) ( had a little tiny piece of Stilton
2 T. mayo, mixed with 1 T. Splenda and 1 T. apple cider vinegar (dressing)
1 handful raisins or dried Crasins.

Chop pears in bite-sized pieces. Add nuts and cheese. Top with dressing. Mix thoroughly.
Serves ME!

Much love, and OH! I got some new shoes for school. YAY me!
Ging